Topic: Biology

Scientists have discovered that millipedes were on land long before vertebrates. They found this out by studying DNA and fossils of ancient millipedes.

Before dinosaurs roamed the Earth, millipedes were already thriving on land. These tiny creatures played a crucial role in some of the planet's earliest ecosystems. But despite their important history, scientists had many questions about how they evolved. Now, an international team has filled in one of the final gaps in the millipede family tree, giving us new insights into these ancient creatures that helped prepare Earth for life on land.

The study published in Current Biology presents the first complete evolutionary history of all living millipede orders. The researchers combined DNA data from modern species with physical evidence preserved in fossils to trace the origins of millipedes back nearly 460 million years, suggesting they existed long before the oldest millipede fossils discovered so far.

The team also solved a longstanding mystery about two rare millipede groups, Siphoniulida and Siphonocryptida. By collecting DNA from these groups and comparing hundreds of genes across 82 millipede species, they determined where these groups fit within millipede evolution and when their lineages first emerged.

Why It Matters

This discovery is important because it shows how life on land evolved over millions of years. It also highlights the crucial role that tiny creatures like millipedes played in shaping our planet's ecosystems.

Key Facts

• Millipedes were on land long before vertebrates, by more than 80 million years
• The study found that millipedes may have originated nearly 460 million years ago
• Scientists used DNA data from modern species and fossils to trace the origins of millipedes

Key Terms

Vertebrates

Animals with backbones, like humans

Implications

This discovery is important because it shows how life on land evolved over millions of years. It also highlights the crucial role that tiny creatures like millipedes played in shaping our planet's ecosystems.