Fossilized Fish Discovery Helps Pinpoint the Origin of Jaws in Vertebrates

Posted on June 11, 2014

Scientists have discovered the fossil of an ancient fish in the Canadian Rockies that reveals the origin of jaws in vertebrates. Researchers discovered fossilized fish specimens of a Cambrian period fish known as Metaspriggina. The well preserved fossils are about 505 million years old.

The above image shows an illustration of Metaspriggina swimming next to a photo of a fossil that shows the well-preserved branchial arches near the front of the creatures' body. Scientists say the first of these pairs, closest to the head, led to the evolution of jaws in vertebrates.

Here is an animation of a Metaspriggina swimming:

Professor Simon Conway Morris of Cambridge's Department of Earth Sciences, the lead author of the study, says in a statement, "The detail in this Metaspriggina fossil is stunning. Even the eyes are beautifully preserved and clearly evident."

Study co-author Dr. Jean-Bernard Caron, Curator of Invertebrate Palaeontology at the Royal Ontario Museum, says, "Obviously jawed fish came later, but this is like a starting post - everything is there and ready to go. Not only is this a major new discovery, one that will play a key role in understanding our own origins, but Marble Canyon, the new Burgess Shale locality itself has fantastic potential for revealing key insights into the early evolution of many other animal groups during this crucial time in the history of life."

A research paper on the fossil find is published here in the journal, Nature.

ANIMALS