"Discovering the 380-Million-Year-Old Air-Breathing Predator Fish"
Originally Published 1 year ago — by ScienceAlert
Fossil remains of a 380-million-year-old predatory fish named Harajicadectes zhumini have been discovered in central Australia, representing the first reasonably complete bony fish found from Devonian rocks in the region. This air-breathing fish, measuring up to 40 centimeters in length, had sharp teeth, fangs, and large spiracles on its skull, suggesting it may have been an apex predator in ancient rivers. The presence of these spiracles, similar to those in early limbed vertebrates, provides insight into the evolution of air breathing in backboned animals.