Mystery of Ancient Organism Solved

Scientists at the University of Chicago and the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., have produced new evidence to finally resolve the mysterious identity of what they regard as one of the strangest organisms that ever lived (image left is specimen in a Saudi Arabia desert).

It's called Prototaxites (pronounced pro-toe-tax-eye-tees), the organism went extinct approximately 350 million years ago. Originally classified as a conifer, scientists later argued that it was instead a lichen, various types of algae or a giant Godzilla fungus. Whatever it was, it stood in tree-like trunks more than 20 feet tall, making it the largest-known organism on land in its day.

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Comments

[Summer Glau]

Yes... but how old is it?

[Summer Glau]

Wait... if they solved the mystery of what it is, how come they still don't know?