New marine fossil species named after researcher's mother
Scientists have identified a 444-million-year-old arthropod that preserved internal organs despite losing its head and legs.
Scientists have identified a new species of marine arthropod, named Keurbos susanae, which lived 444 million years ago. According to the Times of India, the fossil preserves internal structures like muscles, tendons, and digestive remains in three dimensions, even though the creature's head, legs, and most of its outer shell are missing.
The fossil was discovered in the Soom Shale in South Africa's Western Cape Province, an area located about 250 kilometres north of Cape Town. The research, published in Papers in Palaeontology on 26 March 2025, notes that the specimen measures approximately 43 centimetres in length and features a trunk with 46 segments.
University of Leicester palaeontologist Sarah Gabbott named the species after her mother, Sue, to recognise her encouragement in pursuing a career in fossil research. Gabbott spent 25 years studying the material, which she first encountered early in her academic career.
The preservation of the specimen is unusual because most arthropod fossils typically show hard external features rather than soft tissues. In this case, mineral replacement captured the internal anatomy while the external appendages and covering were poorly preserved or lost.
While researchers can identify the creature as an arthropod, they cannot determine its specific evolutionary branch because certain anatomical parts are missing. The fossils date back to the Late Ordovician period, a time of extensive glaciation and major extinction events on Earth.