Science

Oldest animals on Earth found to share a common wormlike ancestor

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 19/10/2026, 17:10:23 UTC.

Briefings

New research from the University of St Andrews, published in Science Advances, presents the first comprehensive phylogenomic analysis of all five extant brachiopod orders. This study identifies a common wormlike ancestor for these marine invertebrates, resolving long-standing evolutionary relationships. The findings are based on genomic data collected from living species across the brachiopod clade, providing a snapshot of their genetic diversity at the time of the study.

Key points

• The study identifies a common wormlike ancestor for all five extant brachiopod orders.
• The analysis covers all five extant brachiopod orders using genomic data from living species.

Context

This research resolves the evolutionary history of brachiopods, a group of marine invertebrates that have been studied for centuries. The findings help clarify the relationships between different brachiopod lineages and provide insights into the evolution of their soft-bodied, shell-bearing bodies. The study is significant because it offers the first comprehensive phylogenomic analysis of the entire group, addressing gaps in understanding their diversification.

Limitations

The evidence is limited to genomic data from five extant brachiopod orders, which may not capture the full diversity of the group. The study relies on existing genomic resources and does not include extinct species or deep-time fossils. The analysis is a snapshot of current genetic diversity and does not account for historical population dynamics or environmental factors that might have shaped brachiopod evolution.

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