New research has revealed that some of Earth's earliest animals were selective about where they lived, despite lacking body parts for movement.

These soft-bodied creatures lived during the Ediacaran Period around 550 million years ago and have long puzzled scientists.

Studying these animals is a unique challenge because they have no modern descendants. 

To better understand these early creatures, researchers focused on determining where in the sea these animals spent their lives.

Researchers were surprised to discover an animal that exhibited living habits similar to those of modern barnacles 

The animal was named Obamus coronatus in honor of former U.S. President Barack Obama.

Obamus was immobile and likely spent its entire life embedded in its preferred spot on the sea floor.

Obamus exhibited a distinct preference for specific habitats, likely motivated by the need to reproduce.

The research team theorizes that Obamus propagated itself through selective larvae that preferred locations with thick microbial mats and close proximity to other Obamus individuals.

This study challenges long-held assumptions about the behavior and living conditions of Earth's most ancient creatures and provides valuable insights into the lives of these early animals.

New research has revealed that some of Earth's earliest animals were selective about where they lived, despite lacking body parts for movement.