Scientists are still conducting some research on this issue!
Not so long ago, a species was found that dates back to 520 million years ago and was believed to be the oldest known bryozoan. However scientists have recently come to the conclusion that it is actually a type of algae.
A bryozoan lives in colonies attached to rocks, shells, or other hard surfaces on ocean or lake bottoms. The problem is, very often these animals are confused with some kind of algae and scientists cannot figure out what they actually are for a rather long time.
New analysis of these fossils have finally shown that this might not be a bryozoan after all, as Martin Smith from Durham University claims.
This new find also means that the oldest bryozoan fossils known to people are from 480 million years in the past. However, not everyone is convinced that the new fossils are not bryozoans.
Scientists are still conducting some research on this issue!
