High-fidelity modular skeletons authenticate a Cambrian origin for Bryozoa

Fossils discovered in the early Cambrian period have confirmed that Protomelission gatehousei and Dayingomelission hexaclitia are definitively bryozoans, pushing back the origin of the phylum Bryozoa. These fossils, published online on June 3, 2026, in Nature, preserve exceptional soft-tissue anatomy and skeletal microstructure, providing high-fidelity modular skeletons. The detailed preservation allows for a robust authentication of their bryozoan identity. This finding suggests that the evolutionary divergence of bryozoans occurred earlier than previously understood, potentially predating the Cambrian explosion or occurring very early within it. The research team analyzed the skeletal structures and cellular arrangements within the fossils to establish their relationship to modern bryozoans. The study's implications extend to understanding the early diversification of animal life and the evolutionary history of marine invertebrates.