local
Fossils reveal the earliest animal with a head was also the oldest known ‘righty’
By CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7
· July 9, 2026
· 6 min read
By Mindy Weisberger, CNN
(CNN) — If you happen to be right-handed, you may be able to trace the origins of that trait to a wormlike animal that lived about 550 million years ago and had a tendency to bend to the right.
Spriggina floundersi appeared in oceans during the Ediacaran Period (635 m...
Key takeaway Spriggina floundersi appeared in oceans during the Ediacaran Period (635 million to 542 million years ago) at the dawn of the first forms of animal life.
Why this matters in The El Paso
The discovery of right-handedness in ancient sea creatures like Spriggina floundersi may seem like a distant finding, but it has implications for our understanding of evolutionary traits that are still present in El Paso 's diverse community today. As a city with a strong presence of educational institutions and research centers, El Pasoans may be interested in how this discovery sheds new light on the fundamental characteristics of animal life. The fact that directional preference, a trait possessed by most humans, is also found in ancient creatures like Spriggina, highlights the complex and interconnected history of life on Earth. This finding may spark interest among local students and researchers in the fields of biology, paleontology, and evolutionary science, and could potentially inspire new areas of study and exploration in El Paso's academic community.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 9, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 6 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? By Mindy Weisberger, CNN
(CNN) — If you happen to be right-handed, you may be able to trace the origins of that trait to a wormlike animal that lived about 550 million years ago and had a tendency to bend to the right.
Spriggina floundersi appeared in oceans during the Ediacaran Period (635 m...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 9, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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