Punk and Emo, dating back 430 million years, challenge conventional beliefs: Discover what scientists have found (video).

Mollusks are one of the most diverse groups of animals on Earth. Recently, scientists discovered two ancient mollusk fossils dating back 430 million years, which they named Punk and Emo (Punk ferox and Emo vorticaudum) — this finding challenges established views on their early origins, according to PHYS.org.

The fossils are dated to the Silurian period and were found in Herefordshire. Researchers studied the find and concluded that this discovery sheds light on the complex evolutionary history of mollusks and how they moved. Essentially, scientists now believe that ancient mollusks were actually more complex and adaptive than previously thought.

The research was conducted by a team from Imperial College London in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Leicester, the University of Oxford, the Senckenberg Research Institute, the Natural History Museum in Frankfurt, and Yale University. The new findings essentially challenge the prevailing belief that early mollusks, including chitons and worm-like mollusks, were basic and quite primitive.

The discovery of new ancient fossils suggests that at least some of the early mollusks possessed unique capabilities. In simple terms, they were quite complex and adaptive in their forms and habitats.

During the study, scientists recreated the fossils in 3D using advanced visualization methods, including X-ray scanning. They also found that Emo and Punk exhibited a wider variety of forms and survival strategies than researchers had previously assumed.

According to co-author Dr. Mark Sutton, by creating digital models of the ancient fossils, the scientists gained a "goldmine of information." This indicates that the evolutionary branch of mollusks, including Emo and Punk, is actually much richer and more diverse than we might have previously assumed. It may also suggest that this applies to other species as well.

Researchers examined the fossils and discovered that both had smooth undersides. This suggests that they lived on the ocean floor, and both exhibited some unique features and unconventional movement strategies.

Interestingly, the Emo fossil was preserved in a folded position. Scientists speculate that at the time of death, the mollusk was likely moving like a worm, using its spines for gripping and propelling itself forward. While the movement of Punk remains unclear to researchers, they found that it had a comb-like foot, unlike any existing mollusk today.