Pikaia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids PikaiaTemporal range: Mid Cambrian
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Pikaia
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P. gracilens
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Pikaia gracilens is a very old animal that lived in the ocean a long, long time ago. It's special because scientists think it might be one of the earliest known chordates. Chordates are a big group of animals that includes fish, birds, and even humans! Pikaia fossils were found in a famous place called the Burgess Shale in British Columbia, Canada.
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Discovering Pikaia
Pikaia was first found by a scientist named Charles Walcott in 1911. He discovered its fossils near Mount Pika. When he first saw it, Walcott thought Pikaia was a type of worm called a Polychaete. Later, other scientists realized it was much more important!
What Pikaia Looked Like
Pikaia was a small creature, only about 40 mm long. That's about the length of your thumb! It had a long, slender body that looked a bit like a tiny fish or a lancelet. It didn't have bones, but it had a flexible rod along its back. This rod is called a notochord. The notochord is a key feature of chordates.
How Pikaia Lived
This ancient animal lived in the ocean during the Middle Cambrian period. Scientists believe Pikaia swam above the seafloor. It probably ate tiny bits of food floating in the water. It would filter these particles as it swam along.
Why Pikaia is Important
Pikaia is very important because it helps us understand how life evolved. Its notochord suggests it's an early relative of all animals with backbones. This includes us! Finding Pikaia fossils helps scientists piece together the story of life on Earth. It shows us a possible first step towards the evolution of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
Images for kids
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This is what Pikaia gracilens might have looked like when it was alive.
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You can see a real Pikaia fossil at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.
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An artist's idea of Pikaia trying to get away from a brine seep in the ancient ocean.
See also
In Spanish: Pikaia para niños
