Scientists have discovered mushroom-shaped alien-like creatures dredged from the depths of the sea strait between mainland Australia and Tasmania.
The two species were called Dendrogramma, after researchers found that they could not be categorised in any existing phylum – large families of living things.
They are made up of an outer skin and inner stomach separated by a thick layer of jelly-like substance, and were caught at depths of 400-1,000 metres off the eastern area of the Bass Strait during a 1986 cruise.
Danish Lead Scientist Dr Jorgen Oleson, from the University of Copenhagen, said: “New mushroom-shaped animals from the deep sea have been discovered which could not be placed in any recognised group of animals.
“Two species are recognised and current evidence suggest that they represent an early branch on the tree of life, with similarities to the 600 million-year-old extinct Ediacara fauna.”
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Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
Corporal Jean-Marc H. BECHARD, 6 Aug 1993
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But they do say it looks like it fit on the 'tree' from a far earlier period. There are some creatures, like crocodiles, which have been around a long long time, so it's possible these were always here, we just never noticed them.
Tree of Life to be No More?
