"Terrifying beasts": unknown predators and masters of the oceans some 500 million years ago

At the beginning of 2024, scientists discovered the fossilised remains of an unknown marine predator in northern Greenland.

Also known as "terrifying beasts", these marine worms were creatures equipped with massive jaws, fins, and long distinctive antennae. They could grow up to 30 centimetres long and dominated the oceans some 500 million years ago.

According to scientists, these worms, the “timorebestia”, were at the top of the food chain 518 million years ago. Before being replaced by more efficient groups of predators, their reign are said to have lasted 10 to 15 million years.

The very last meal

Researchers from the University of Bristol have gathered enough evidence to determine what would have been this terrifying beast's very last meal, “namely a small creature called Isoxys,” reports 7sur7.

(MH with Raphaël Liset - Source: 7sur7 - Illustration: ©Unsplash)