Mexican scientists say they have determined that a lobster fossil uncovered in southern Mexico is at least 110 million-years-old.
Geologists from the National Autonomous University of Mexico or UNAM say the lobster fossil is the oldest found anywhere in the world. They dug up the fossil in Mexico's Chiapas state in 1995, and spent a decade establishing its age.
The scientists say the lobster found in Chiapas also is the first of its kind to be found in the Americas, and belongs to the same species as lobsters in Africa.
They say it is likely that the species, Palinurus Palaceosi, originated in Latin America when the continent was physically close to Africa. Scientists believe the two continents split apart around 120 million years ago.
Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.
