Ancient Scottish Millipede Wasn’t the First Air Breathing Land Animal, Texas Undergrad Proves (and scientists admit they now don’t know what was)

September 14, 2017

An undergraduate geology student at The University of Texas has helped debunk a long-held scientific theory that an ancient millipede was the first air-breathing land animal.

The research involved dating ancient volcanic sediment near where the millipede fossil was found.

After dating the sediment, the researchers found that the specimen was about 14 million years younger than previously thought, meaning it couldn’t have been the first land-breathing organism.

The Daily Mail, July 6, 2017

Science Daily, July 5, 2017

Featuring: Elilzabeth Catlos, Associate Professor, Department of Geological Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences;  Stephanie Suarez, undergraduate student, Jackson School of Geosciences