555-Million-Year-Old Worm-Like Creature Discovered in Australia: Possible Ancestor of All Animals

Researchers have discovered a 555-million-year-old worm-like creature, *Ikaria wariootia*, in Nilpena, South Australia. This organism, dating back to the Ediacaran Period, is considered the earliest bilaterian, characterized by a front and back, symmetrical sides, and openings connected by a gut. The discovery, published in the *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences* journal, aligns with evolutionary biologists' predictions that the oldest ancestor of bilaterians was small and simple. Using 3D laser scans, the team from the University of California, Riverside, identified impressions shaped like grains of rice, revealing heads, tails, and muscle grooves. These features suggest the creature moved like modern worms and had a mouth, gut, and posterior opening. The name *Ikaria* means "meeting place" in Adnyamathanha, the language of indigenous Australians, while *wariootia* refers to Warioota Creek. This finding marks a significant step in understanding animal evolution, as the bilaterian body plan is fundamental to a multitude of animals, including humans.