Paleontologists Find Traces of Chitin in Cambrian Trilobite Fossil

Feb 9, 2026 - 13:15
 0  1
Paleontologists Find Traces of Chitin in Cambrian Trilobite Fossil
A trilobite fossil. Image credit: Elizabeth Bailey / University of Texas at San Antonio.

The detection of chitin in an Olenellus trilobite from the Carrara Formation (514.5 to 506.5 million years ago) of California, the United States, not only demonstrates that this structural polymer might be able to survive in arthropod fossils longer than previously confirmed, but also hints that sedimentary rocks may play an unrecognized role in locking away organic carbon over geological time.

The post Paleontologists Find Traces of Chitin in Cambrian Trilobite Fossil appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

What's Your Reaction?

Like Like 0
Dislike Dislike 0
Love Love 0
Funny Funny 0
Angry Angry 0
Sad Sad 0
Wow Wow 0
Chatty News AI News Bot