Researchers from Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia, have made an intriguing new discovery in the realm of paleontology. In the remote fossil fields west of Alice Springs in Australia’s ‘Red Centre,’ they have unearthed a fossil of a lobe-finned fish. This fish, named Harajicadectes zhumini, is a 40 cm long predator with large fangs and bony scales.
Dr. Brian Choo, a paleontologist from Flinders University, led the international team of researchers responsible for the discovery. Harajicadectes zhumini is an ancient tetrapodomorph lineage fish, with distinctive features such as large openings on the top of its skull that indicate the ability to facilitate surface air-breathing.
The synchronized appearance of the air-breathing adaptation in various lineages of ancient fish may have coincided with a time of decreased atmospheric oxygen during the mid-Devonian era. The fossils were discovered in the Harajica Sandstone Member in the Northern Territory of Australia, dating back to roughly 380 million years ago.
This fascinating discovery sheds light on the evolution of lobe-finned fish and the emergence of air-breathing adaptations. The research involved the examination of nearly complete specimens of Harajicadectes zhumini, providing valuable insights into the evolutionary history of this unique fish.
The study was published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology and represents the culmination of 50 years of exploration and research. The research team recovered fragmentary specimens in 1973, and subsequent expeditions in 1991 led to the recovery of many more fossils. However, it was not until the 2016 expedition by Flinders University that an almost complete specimen of Harajicadectes zhumini was found.
This newfound understanding of Harajicadectes zhumini’s place in the evolutionary history of ancient fish has significant implications for our understanding of vertebrate evolution. It represents a major contribution to the field of paleontology and sets the stage for further research into the fascinating world of prehistoric aquatic life.