Scientists have discovered exceptionally preserved fossils of the Ferruaspis brocksi fish in New South Wales, allowing them to reconstruct detailed aspects of the species' biology from 16 million years ago. These fossils preserve microscopic features such as stomach contents and color-determining cell outlines, offering an exceptional glimpse into the anatomy of the fish. This discovery highlights a significant find for the Osmeriformes group, providing new insights into their evolution and behavior. Researchers believe this level of preservation could change perceptions of soft tissue fossilization in paleontology.
In palaeontology there's often so many gaps. Normally we just find isolated bones of a particular species. We can't often see the whole animal, and we rarely see things like soft tissues preserved.
This unusual level of detail including the slender shape of the fish and position of its bones and fins has revealed a lot about the species, called Ferruaspis brocksi.
From these microscopic details, the authors determined the fish were counter shaded darker at the top and lighter at the belly with two stripes along their sides.
This find has provided the first detailed evidence in Australia for a group of fish called the Osmeriformes, which today include graylings and smelts.
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