Scientists have found complicated sex life in one of the earliest complex organisms. Researchers didn't know much about the biology of Fractofusus, but thanks to latest research to help them gain significant insight into their some strange behaviors.

The organisms in question lived in the ocean 565 million years ago and now it has transpired that they had a dual mode of reproduction.

One of the methods used by them to reproduce involved sprouting young from its body in a way very similar to what is used by a spider plant or strawberry plant to multiply. The other way was to produce seeds or tiny buds into the water column.

The researchers determined that the ancient life-form produced clones capable of colonize a new patch of seabed.

An ocean of simple multi-cellular microbes gave rise to emergence of one of the earliest-known, complicated organisms. Its size extended to maximum 40cm and shape was flat, oval. It was made up of a series of little branches stretching across the sea floor.

"It has a very distinct body plan that is totally unique. There is nothing like Fractofusus around today, which makes trying to understand anything about it really, really difficult", said Dr. Emily Mitchell, postdoctoral researcher in University of Cambridge's department of earth sciences.

Dr. Mitchell says it may sound strange that the two-modes-of-reproduction phenomenon is real, but it's a true fact that many plants indeed reproduced in this way.

Fractofusus came from a now-extinct eukaryotic group known as rangeomorphs.