On March 26th, it was reported by the Hunan Provincial Geological Museum that its professional technical staff recently conducted field surveys of paleontological fossil sites in Taoyuan area, Changde. They carried out on-site inspections and sampling in locations such as Yexi Yu, Ligonggang, and Yanmatou, collecting a total of 15 fossil specimens. Among them was one remarkably well-preserved fossil of a large sponge from the early Cambrian period, dating back approximately 540 million years. This marks the first complete sponge fossil collected by the museum since its establishment in 1958.
Early Cambrian large sponge fossil. Photo by Tong Guanghui.
Sponges are the most primitive multicellular animals, dating back 600 million years. They attach and fix themselves to sediment on the seabed, acquiring nutrients from the passing seawater. These animals lack a mouth, digestive cavity, or central nervous system. Their bodies are covered in tiny pores, with numerous flagella and a sieve-like ring structure. They use the flagella to draw in seawater, capturing oxygen, bacteria, tiny algae, and organic debris. The water passes through the sieve-like structure, leaving behind nutrients for the sponge's survival. Sponges come in various shapes, including sheet-like, block-like, spherical, fan-shaped, tubular, bottle-shaped, pitcher-shaped, and branching forms.
According to reports, the purpose of this survey was to conduct fossil sampling in potential paleontological sites in the Taoyuan area to ascertain the presence of fossil resources. The fossils collected during field surveys provide primary research material for museums, enriching their collections and providing new specimens for museum exhibitions.
