
Jellyfish (Desmonema annasethe)
500 million years ago
Soft Bodies That Outlast Hard Problems
Jellyfish lack bones, shells, or hard teeth, which makes their fossil record patchy. Even so, discoidal and medusa-like impressions in Ediacaran and Cambrian rocks, combined with the diversity of living cnidarians, point to a very ancient origin. Modern Discomedusae include some of the largest jellyfish, with individuals that can weigh hundreds of kilograms.
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Jellyfish lack bones, shells, or hard teeth, which makes their fossil record patchy. Even so, discoidal and medusa-like impressions in Ediacaran and Cambrian rocks, combined with the diversity of living cnidarians, point to a very ancient origin. Modern Discomedusae include some of the largest jellyfish, with individuals that can weigh hundreds of kilograms.






























































