Science

Tiny fossils show brittle stars gathered around a dead whale 9.5 million years ago

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Briefings

Researchers in southern Denmark discovered a new brittle star species, Ophiura huebnerjenseni, preserved in the Gram Clay Pit alongside a fossil whale bone dated 9.5 million years ago. This represents the first known fossil evidence of brittle stars gathering around a whale carcass, offering a rare snapshot of prehistoric marine life interactions.

Key points

• A new brittle star species, Ophiura huebnerjenseni, was identified from the Gram Clay Pit in southern Denmark.
• The fossil whale bone is dated to approximately 9.5 million years ago.

Context

This discovery provides the first fossil record of brittle stars associated with a whale fall, offering a rare glimpse of life around a whale carcass from the Miocene period.

Limitations

The evidence is limited to a single new species identified from a specific Danish pit. The fossil whale bone is dated to 9.5 million years ago, but the exact context of the 'whale fall' event remains unconfirmed.

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