title: The first animals on Earth may have been sea sponges, study suggests
author: u/connectwithmarve
contenttype: redditpost
publication: r/science
published: 2026-02-28T02:38:49+00:00
sourceurl: https://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/1rgqtht/thefirstanimalsonearthmayhavebeen_sea/
word_count: 43
Link: https://news.mit.edu/2025/first-animals-earth-may-have-been-sea-sponges-study-suggests-0929
Score: 450 | Comments: 17 | Subreddit: r/science
Top Comments
u/MarcusSurealius (9 pts):
The step between would be colonial organisms. Some of those likely became rooted in high resource areas and evolved into multicellular organisms. We wouldn't see any fossilized evidence of them for obvious reasons, so my thoughts are based solely on my understanding of evolution. It is likely that there was a period where the oceans were ruled by colonial organisms.
Edit: not saying colonial organisms are animals. Just pointing out an issue with what we're calling beginnings that should be further defined.
u/liloreokid (6 pts):
I Would have thought pineapples came first.