All Images
News Release 08-059
And the First Animal on Earth Was a ...
Evolutionary history of the comb jelly reveals surprising clues about Earth’s first animal
This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.
A comb jelly. The evolutionary history of the comb jelly has revealed surprising clues about Earth's first animal.
Credit: Casey Dunn
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (364 KB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.
The comb jelly could only have achieved its apparent seniority over the simpler sponge via one of two new evolutionary scenarios: 1) the comb jelly evolved its complexity independently of other animals, after it branched off onto its own evolutionary path; or 2) the sponge evolved its simple form from more complex creatures--a possibility that underscores the fact that evolution is not necessarily just a march towards increased complexity, says Dunn. This scenario would provide a particularly dramatic example of that principle.
Credit: Zina Deretsky, NSF
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (518 KB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.
A comb jelly
Credit: Casey Dunn
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (948 KB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.
A comb jelly
Credit: Casey Dunn
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (351 KB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.