New Delhi: Researchers at Yale University in New Haven, and the American Museum of Natural History have recently identified the earliest known relative of octopuses and vampire squid. The scientists have named it after the 46th president of the United States — Joseph R. Biden.
The study was recently published in the journal, Nature Communications.
Findings Of The Study
The organism, named Syllipsimopodi bideni, had 10 arms, fins, and rows of suckers to grasp prey. Syllipsimopodi bideni lived 328 million years ago, and represents a new species of vampyropod, according to the study. Vampyropod is the group of marine animals that includes modern octopuses and vampire squid.
The authors of the study named the animal after President Joe Biden to honour the new president, and to recognise his commitment to science. Biden had just been inaugurated at the time the study was submitted for publication.
Christopher Whalen, the lead author of the study, said that the researchers' findings suggest that the earliest vampyropods, at least superficially, resembled squids that are living today, according to a statement issued by Yale University. He further said that Syllipsimopodi bideni challenges the predominant arguments for vampyropod origins and offers a new model for the evolution of internally-shelled cephalopods.
A specimen was discovered in central Montana, and Whalen and co-author Neil Landman had made the identification of the animal from the specimen.
Characteristics Of Syllipsimopodi bideni
Syllipsimopodi bideni, which extends the fossil record for vampyropods by nearly 82 million years, is the only known vampyropod to have 10 functional arms, according to the study. Octopods, by contrast, have eight arms, and two filaments. Meanwhile, modern vampire squid and cuttlefish have 10 arms.
Whalen said that today, only squids and their relatives, and vampire squid have a gladius. The gladius is a feather-shaped internal structure that supports the squid mantle, and serves as a site for muscle attachment. It is constituted mainly of proteoglycans and β-chitin.
Whalen said that octopods have reduced the gladius to a fin support or stylets, which are small, hard, bar-shaped structures.
The authors said that Syllipsimopodi bideni had a torpedo-shaped body, and that its fins were large enough to perhaps function as stabilisers and to help it swim.
Similar to the two elongated tentacles of modern squids, one pair of the arms of Syllipsimopodi bideni was considerably larger than the other four pairs.
The researchers believe that Syllipsimopodi bideni used its longer arms to capture prey, and its shorter arms to confine and manipulate prey. With its longer arms, Syllipsimopodi bideni captured smaller, shelled animals.
Why Did Researchers Name The Organism After Biden?
Whalen said that the publication was accepted soon after the president's inauguration and the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol.
He said that he wanted to somehow acknowledge the moment in a way that was more positive and forward-looking, according to the statement.
Whalen added that he was encouraged by the plans "President Biden put forward to counter anthropogenic climate change, and his general sentiment that politicians should listen to scientists".