‘Humans evolved from worm creature’

Humans evolved from a two-inch long worm-like creature that wriggled in the sea more than 500m years ago, scientists have learned.

The extinct Pikaia gracilens has been confirmed as the oldest known member of the chordate family, which includes all modern vertebrates including humans.

It gave rise to the panoply of vertebrate animals alive today — fish, amphibians, birds, reptiles and mammals.