Did poop enable the evolution of complex animals?
trilobite poop Did poop enable the evolution of complex animals? In a recent study, evolution gets even messier than usual. The first animals on Earth emerged about 600 million years ago, and 60 million years later, those simple early animals evolved into wildly different directions, branching out into a diverse menagerie of complicated new forms and conquering new ecological niches.
- ▪trilobite poop Did poop enable the evolution of complex animals?
- ▪In a recent study, evolution gets even messier than usual.
- ▪The first animals on Earth emerged about 600 million years ago, and 60 million years later, those simple early animals evolved into wildly different directions, branching out into a diverse menagerie of complicated new forms and conquering
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| Original publisher | Ars Technica |
| Canonical URL | https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/08/feces-fueled-a-flurry-of-evolution-during-the-cambrian-study-suggests/ |
| Publication time | Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:34:38 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-08-12T13:01:36.195Z |
| Last seen | 2026-08-12T13:01:36.195Z |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
trilobite poop Did poop enable the evolution of complex animals? In a recent study, evolution gets even messier than usual. Kiona N. Smith – Aug 12, 2026 8:34 am | 6 Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav The Cambrian explosion may have been fueled by poop. The first animals on Earth emerged about 600 million years ago, and 60 million years later, those simple early animals evolved into wildly different directions, branching out into a diverse menagerie of complicated new forms and conquering new ecological niches. Known as the Cambrian Explosion, this flurry of rapid evolution produced most of the animal phyla and ecosystems we see around us today.
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