1. Parasite infection in amber
In June, scientists identified a new extinct parasitic fungus that grew from the rectum of a 50-million-year-old ant, all of which were perfectly preserved in the amber layer.
The mushroom is called Allocordyceps baltic, a member of the modern parasitic mushroom family Ophiocordyceps, but it has had development stages that have not been recorded. Ants stuck in amphibians are carpenters of the Camponotus breed, they are a common host of Ophiocordyceps.
2. Nica was killed in the middle of a meal
A study by the Zurich University Museum of Natural Resources and Biology published in April described an incredible Jura-era fossil that showed a squid-like animal with 10 relatives, called belemnite, that was holding a deadly prey in its mouth. Even more surprisingly, the bites on the belemnite's body showed that it was also being eaten by a shark at the same time.
Researchers suspect that the cocking creatures sank to the seabed about 180 million years ago, where they were traceled together in what is now Germany. This fossil is one of only 10 belemnite fossils ever discovered.
3. Ancient spider brain
In July, paleontologists at the University of New England in Maine, USA, announced their discovery of a rare fossil brain of an extinct horse-named crab (a member of the spider family, not a threatened species) found in Mazon Creek in Illinois. The brain fossil is believed to be about 310 million years old, making it one of the oldest fossils ever discovered.
4. 1 billion year old ball-shaped fossil - the oldest multi- cell life on Earth
In April, researchers reported the discovery of ball-shaped fossils of multi- cell life believed to be about one billion years old. This fossil is considered a "missing link" in the earliest chapter of life on Earth, narrowing the gap between the first living thing - single-celled thing - and more complex multi-celled life.
The extremely small fossil cell blocks, named Bicellum brasieri by scientists, were found in sediment from the bottom of a lake in northwest Scotland, which is particularly well preserved in 3D form.
5. fossil fish lungs
In February, scientists announced that they had discovered a new, extinct ancient braised fish based on a 66 million-year-old fossil lung leaf.
The unique fossil was discovered in Morocco along with some bones of a khung bo. This new species is the largest brackish fish ever discovered and has been found in an area never before found. Lunar damage suggests it may have been killed by plesiosaurs or mosasaurs, two of the largest carnivores in the ocean at the time.
6. Giant hornless Reeds
In June, researchers revealed that they had discovered the remains of a 26.5 million-year-old giant non- horn-less pangolin in China. The xeopard is called paraceratherium Linxiaense, 8m long with a shoulder height of 5m and weighs up to 24 tons, equivalent to four African elephants. It is considered one of the largest damaged animals ever to have lived on Earth.
The skull and jaw bone box shows P. Linxiaense having a giant head, 1.1m long and a small trunk, similar to that of a pig today.
7. Theory of the 'un dead' crabs
According to the results of many years of research on the specimens that were just published on October 20 in the journal Science Advances, the miniature crab in the amber pieces was named Cretapsara athanata, meaning "the immortal soul of clouds and water in the White Pans". It is one of the earliest examples of crabs occupying freshwater habitats and possibly the "missing link" between freshwater crabs and saline.
8. Spide- roomed family
In September, a new study revealed that the now extinct Lagonomegopidae spiders were wrapped in four amber blocks. Three of the blocks contained small newly blooming spiders, but the remaining special block contained a female spider with an egg-filled bag. It is considered the oldest example of caring for children in spiders.
The amber patch containing the spider's mother clearly shows that it is bending over and hugging the egg in a protective position. The three amber blocks contained a total of 84 newly bloomed baby spiders.
9. New front leg animal
In March, scientists described a new front-footed animal with an edge-shaped body as the oldest ever discovered. Common crested animals include a group of species such as octopus, blue-headed caterpillars, cap stools and Anh Vu snails.
The fossils date back to the beginning of the Cambrian century and are about 522 million years old, 30 million years younger than the previous record, belonging to the oldest frog-legged animal.
The bighead shark has 'ws'
In March, a study in France revealed a strange shark with a wing-like wings and a wide mouth that once walked in the waters of what is now Mexico about 93 million years ago.
The exotic shark, named Aquilolamna milarcae, looks like a hybrid between the shark we see today and the damaged fish. It swallows up the small, Internal billion-vehicle relatives.
This winged shark is unlike any other shark that still lives today with a wingspan of 1.9m and a total body length of about 1.65m.
