Marine animals first colonized empty seashells about 470 million years ago
Researchers from the University of Tartu discovered that marine animals began colonizing empty mollusk shells approximately 470 million years ago. This ecological shift created new habitats and contributed to the development of complex marine ecosystems.
Why it matters
Understanding the evolutionary history of marine ecosystems provides insight into how biodiversity and ecological niches have developed over geological time.
edited by Lisa Lock , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source Steinkern of Maclurites neritoides containing cryptic fauna cornulitids, bryozoans, and graptolites (arrows). Credit: Scientific Reports (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-62638-5 An international study led by researchers from the University of Tartu shows that approximately 470 million years ago, a significant ecological change took place in the world's oceans: For the first time, the interiors of empty mollusk shells began to be used as habitats. This marked the emergence of a new ecological niche and was a crucial step in the development of a marine ecosystem similar to today's.
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