A 518-Million-Year-Old Worm Reveals Ancient Animal Ancestry

Spotting any similarities between the brachiopods, the bryozoans and the phoronids may seem impossible. These sea creatures do all live sedentary lifestyles — attaching themselves to rocks and reefs along the ocean floor. But what characteristics could the clam-like, hard-shelled brachiopods possibly share with animals that resemble frilly aquatic plants?