A newly discovered Cambrian creature, Mosura fentoni, is challenging our understanding of early animal evolution. This three-eyed, clawed predator, about finger-sized, is a radiodont with a unique tail-like structure of 16 segmented gills. Unlike its larger relatives, these gills were likely unsuitable for propulsion. The well-preserved fossils, from Canada's Burgess Shale, reveal internal anatomy including nerve tissue, eye structures, and a circulatory system. Mosura's unusual features suggest it may have inhabited low-oxygen environments. Its discovery highlights the ongoing revelations from the Burgess Shale.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.