Scientists discover fossil of ancient sea creature, name it after President Obama
Scientists discover fossil of ancient sea creature, name it after President Obama
Doyle Rice, USA TODAY Published 1:51 p.m. ET June 19, 2018 | Updated 6:44 p.m. ET June 19, 2018
It lived an uneventful life in Earth's oceans 500 million years ago, but now this newly discovered creature has an unusual honor: It's been given the scientific name Obamus coronatus, a name that honors President Barack Obama's passion for science. ("Coronatus" means "crowned." )
The tiny, disc-shaped animal was about a 1/2 inch long, with raised spiral grooves on its surface. It spent its entire life embedded on the ocean floor, likely never moving, according to scientists from the University of California-Riverside.
A second small animal, an egg-shaped critter that may have looked like a raisin, was also discovered. It was given the name Attenborites janeae, after the English naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, who was known for his science advocacy and support of paleontology. (Janeae is a nod to Jane Fargher, a co-owner of the property where the fossils were discovered.)
Both are among the earliest animals to exist on Earth. They were discovered in a remarkably well-preserved fossil bed in a southern Australia mountain range.
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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/06/19/scientists-discover-fossil-sea-creature-obama/714479002/
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