Scientists have uncovered the world’s oldest known penis, which belonged to an ancient crustacean fossilized for 425 million years. This tiny creature, an ostracod, was preserved in volcanic ash, which surprisingly protected both its hard and soft tissues, something rarely seen in the fossil record.
The discovery was made by Professor David Siveter, a paleontologist who stumbled upon this remarkable find on a rock in 2003 in the West of England. Ostracods, a class of crustaceans commonly referred to as seed shrimp, have shown remarkable evolutionary stability, with modern-day species closely resembling their ancient ancestors. According to a report in Science, this fossil provides valuable insights into the anatomy of these creatures, which have changed very little over millions of years.
What makes this discovery so exceptional is the preservation of the ostracod’s soft tissues, including its penis, which is unusually large in proportion to its body—measuring about a third of the creature’s total length. The fossil, which is just 1 mm long, also retained other delicate features such as gills, eyes, and appendages, offering an unprecedented glimpse into the biology of this ancient species.
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Professor Siveter described the fossil’s preservation as “exceptional,” noting that it is rare to find soft tissues intact, let alone be able to assign a gender to a fossil. The fossil’s condition was so pristine that a detailed digital model of the ostracod was created, allowing scientists to reconstruct its body in 3D. This reconstruction revealed that the crustacean produced impressively large sperm, about 10 mm in length, a fascinating detail given the creature's tiny size.
The discovery of the ancient penis led to the species being named Colymbosathon ecplecticos, which translates from Greek as “astounding swimmer with a large penis.” This name aptly reflects the unique characteristics of the fossil and its historical significance.
In addition to its reproductive organs, the fossil also provided the earliest known evidence of a respiratory-circulatory system in ostracods, as it preserved undoubted gills. This finding indicates that these ancient creatures breathed and reproduced in ways remarkably similar to their modern descendants.
This tiny, yet incredibly well-preserved fossil, not only sheds light on the evolutionary history of ostracods but also adds a new chapter to our understanding of life in Earth's ancient seas. The discovery underscores the incredible preservation potential of volcanic ash, offering scientists a rare window into the past that continues to surprise and inform.
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