For decades, scientists could not agree on whether to classify the Dickinsonia as an animal or not — until this new study showed that it is actually the oldest known animal.

A 558-million-year-old fossil has been confirmed as the world's earliest known animal, scientists have announced. The creature, Dickinsonia, has been the subject of scientific debate since it was ...

Fat molecules discovered on the fossil of a mysterious creature called Dickinsonia have confirmed that that it lived 558 million years ago, making it the earliest known member of the animal kingdom.

The evidence used to support this claim is nothing short of extraordinary: cholesterol molecules found within a 558-million-year old Dickinsonia fossil from near the White Sea in northwest Russia.

A 4-foot-long mysterious jellyfish-like ribbed creature, the Dickinsonia, is now the earliest known animal to live on Earth, scientists say.

Dickinsonia was evidently far from the first animal on Earth. Analysis of DNA of living animals suggests animals appeared more than 720 million years ago, although fossil evidence that old is lacking.

Dickinsonia was evidently far from the first animal on Earth. Analysis of DNA of living animals suggests animals appeared more than 720 million years ago, although fossil evidence that old is lacking.

Scientists have discovered that 558 million-year-old Dickinsonia fossils do not reveal all of the features of the earliest known animals, which potentially had mouths and guts.

Fat molecules discovered on the fossil of a mysterious creature called Dickinsonia have confirmed that that it lived 558 million years ago, making it the earliest known member of the animal kingdom.

Scientists discovered the first-ever Dickinsonia fossil in India two years ago, changing our understanding of how the continent came to be. Now, new research shows the 'fossil' was just a beehive ...

Fossils offer a glimpse into Earth's ancient life, revealing the origins and evolution of complex organisms. Discoveries like ...

Besides high levels of cholesterol, the fossil was lacking in chemical markers known to be associated with fungi. “Scientists have been fighting for more than 75 years over what Dickinsonia and ...