Researchers Unveil Secrets of 400-Million-Year-Old Fish
A team of researchers from China and Australia has made a significant discovery by locating Palaeospondylus fossils outside Scotland for the first time, as reported by the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese...
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A team of researchers from China and Australia has made a significant discovery by locating Palaeospondylus fossils outside Scotland for the first time, as reported by the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The fossils, dating back approximately 400 million years, extend the known existence of the species by about 10 million years. Utilizing CT scanning and 3D reconstruction techniques, the team successfully restored the neurocranial structures of Palaeospondylus, which provides vital evidence for clarifying its evolutionary placement. This small and enigmatic early vertebrate has been a subject of scientific interest for decades.
Published as a cover article in the academic journal National Science Review, the study received additional attention in a related commentary. The commentary highlighted that "They make progress with interpreting its anatomy, and are able to disprove some previous hypotheses about its relationships," and that the interpretation "represents a huge improvement on our previous understanding."
First recorded in 1890, Palaeospondylus is a tiny, eel-like fish that measures just a few centimeters and has long puzzled scientists. Over 1,000 specimens from Scotland have revealed skeletal features that are markedly different from those of other fish.
For over a century, researchers have attempted to classify Palaeospondylus among nearly all major fish groups, including jawless hagfish and lobe-finned fish larvae. Despite these efforts, its phylogenetic position has remained unresolved, earning it a reputation as "one of the most mysterious early vertebrates."
The newly identified fossils, designated Palaeospondylus australis, were discovered in the Cravens Peak Beds of the Georgina Basin in western Queensland, Australia, within strata from the Early Devonian Emsian epoch, which are believed to be approximately 400 million years old. These fossils coexisted with a variety of species, including jawless fish, armored placoderms, early sharks, spiny fish, and diverse bony fish.
The fragmentary fossils revealed three-dimensionally preserved brain structures and mineralized tissues. High-resolution CT scans and 3D techniques enabled the team to reconstruct the complete brain cavity, including semicircular canals and nerve canals, which are crucial for understanding Palaeospondylus’s evolutionary lineage, according to Lu Jing, the research team leader.
Phylogenetic analysis based on these findings suggests that Palaeospondylus likely belongs to the lineage of cartilaginous fish instead of the tetrapod stem group, as previously thought, Lu stated. Furthermore, the team developed an innovative cross-platform volumetric data reconstruction method that allows for efficient restoration and cross-verification. This technique significantly improves the processing and visualization of paleontological CT data, potentially transforming future research efforts, Lu added.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
The fossils, dating back approximately 400 million years, extend the known existence of the species by about 10 million years. Utilizing CT scanning and 3D reconstruction techniques, the team successfully restored the neurocranial structures of Palaeospondylus, which provides vital evidence for clarifying its evolutionary placement. This small and enigmatic early vertebrate has been a subject of scientific interest for decades.
Published as a cover article in the academic journal National Science Review, the study received additional attention in a related commentary. The commentary highlighted that "They make progress with interpreting its anatomy, and are able to disprove some previous hypotheses about its relationships," and that the interpretation "represents a huge improvement on our previous understanding."
First recorded in 1890, Palaeospondylus is a tiny, eel-like fish that measures just a few centimeters and has long puzzled scientists. Over 1,000 specimens from Scotland have revealed skeletal features that are markedly different from those of other fish.
For over a century, researchers have attempted to classify Palaeospondylus among nearly all major fish groups, including jawless hagfish and lobe-finned fish larvae. Despite these efforts, its phylogenetic position has remained unresolved, earning it a reputation as "one of the most mysterious early vertebrates."
The newly identified fossils, designated Palaeospondylus australis, were discovered in the Cravens Peak Beds of the Georgina Basin in western Queensland, Australia, within strata from the Early Devonian Emsian epoch, which are believed to be approximately 400 million years old. These fossils coexisted with a variety of species, including jawless fish, armored placoderms, early sharks, spiny fish, and diverse bony fish.
The fragmentary fossils revealed three-dimensionally preserved brain structures and mineralized tissues. High-resolution CT scans and 3D techniques enabled the team to reconstruct the complete brain cavity, including semicircular canals and nerve canals, which are crucial for understanding Palaeospondylus’s evolutionary lineage, according to Lu Jing, the research team leader.
Phylogenetic analysis based on these findings suggests that Palaeospondylus likely belongs to the lineage of cartilaginous fish instead of the tetrapod stem group, as previously thought, Lu stated. Furthermore, the team developed an innovative cross-platform volumetric data reconstruction method that allows for efficient restoration and cross-verification. This technique significantly improves the processing and visualization of paleontological CT data, potentially transforming future research efforts, Lu added.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
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