The fossil eye of an extinct sea creature that lived 429 million years ago has been analyzed for the first time by scientists.
The analysis shows that it is similar to the visual organ of some modern animals, such as dragonflies, bees and crabs.
The prehistoric peeper belonged to a hard-shaken arthropod called a trilobite (Aulacopleura kionickii).
It was discovered at Lodenice in the Czech Republic in 1846, but has so far never been analyzed in great detail.
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Pictured, the fossil compound eye of the specimen which is about 1 cm long and was first discovered in 1846 in the Czech Republic
Pictured, the trilobite Aulacopleura kionickii. The preserved composite eye of the animal was comparable to that of modern species, such as dragonflies, bees and crayfish.
Corresponding author Dr Brigitte Schoenemann, from Cologne University, said: ‘The parallels are great.
‘The findings suggest that the principles of vision in many insects and crayfish today are at least half a billion years old.’
The flat, half-inch long fossil had two bulging semi-oval eyes on the back of its head – one of which was broken off.
Analysis of the fossil remains shows that the ancient creature named Aulacopleura koninckii had a primitive form of composite eye.
It consisted of small visual cells, called ommatidia, just like those seen in bees today.
Dr Schoenemann added: ‘Trilobites are extinct arthropods that dominate the paleo-fauna of the oceans, half a billion years ago and a little later.
‘The internal structure of this eye is almost identical to that of modern bees, dragonflies, crabs and many other modern active arthropods living today.’
Earlier research has seen modern insects found in more detail than was once believed.
Scientists at the University of Sheffield have found that the insect genome has thousands of receptors that make up the non-compound ‘compound eyes’ and they move rapidly in and out of focus as they support the world around them.
This rapid ‘twitching’ is so rapid that it cannot be seen with the naked eye, and helps the insects deliver ‘hyperaccurate vision’, the researchers said.
Pictured, the outside of the visual unit (Ommatidium), which has a diameter of about 35μm. The flat half-inch long fossil had two bulging semi-oval eyes on the back of its head – one of which was broken off
Analysis of the ancient specimen indicates that the sight of modern insects and crustaceans (pictured) originated at least half a billion years ago
The findings show that the optical organ has changed remarkably in more than 500 million years – and reveals how Aulacopleura saw the world around it.
They contained light-detecting cells that ran around a transparent tube called a rhabdom.
The study published in Scientific Reports sheds fresh light on Aulacopleura’s lifestyle.
Dr Schoenemann said: ‘It was probably active during the day, because smaller diameter lenses are efficient at absorbing light under light conditions.
‘The small size of its visual units indicates that it lives in clear, shallow waters. It probably lived around the igge.
‘The little creature is about half an inch long and a third of an inch wide – and just 2-3mm high. It has a very, very thin shell.
‘It has a bottom dwelling, gliding over the bottom of the seas, eating organic matter and other useful things it found. ‘
She and co-author Dr Euan Clarkson, of the University of Edinburgh, scanned Aulacopleura’s well-preserved fossil using digital microscopes.
Earlier this year, researchers discovered the world’s oldest ‘break’ on record – a 425 million year old fossil millipede.
It existed at the same time as the newly studied trilobite and its remains were discovered on the Scottish island of Kerrera.
After analyzing the dead injection, a team of scientists determined that the ancient creatures lived only 40 miles in lakes to live in complex forest ecosystems.
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