Ancient Tapeworm Eggs Found in Fossilized Shark Poop

[Swa]

Ancient tapeworm eggs found in 270-million-year-old shark poop suggests these parasites may have plagued animals for much longer than previously known, researchers say.

Tapeworms cling to the inner walls of the intestines of vertebrates — creatures with backbones such as fish, pigs, cows and humans. When these parasites reach adulthood, they unleash their eggs on the world via the feces of their hosts.

Investigating the early history of such parasites of vertebrates is tricky because fossils of these parasites dating back to the age of dinosaurs or before are rare. One way researchers might unearth such fossils is by analyzing coprolites, or fossilized dung.

http://www.livescience.com/26738-ancient-tapeworms-fossilized-shark-poop.html

 

[MisterFortySomething]

No s**t.

 

[b@nD]

Shark

Tapeworms cling to the inner walls of the intestines of vertebrates — creatures with backbones such as fish, pigs, cows and humans. (and Sharks)

Interesting then that Sharks are a group of fish characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton
Which would lead one to think that they are invertebrates
Not so

Sharks are VERTEBRATES. They do have a backbone and are fish.
Sharks belong to the phylum Chordata, and subphylum Vertebrata, and are true vertebrates. Their skeleton is made of cartilage, not bone, but they have a vertebral column. Although the vertebral column is made of cartilage, it is strengthened by tesserae (crystal blocks of calcium salts) which gives it a similar toughness to the bone found in other vertebrates. Tesserae is also found strengthening the sharks jaw and gill arches