249-million-year-old fish fossils reveal new species in China

A team of Chinese palaeontologists has identified a new prehistoric fish species, Whiteia anniae, from two exceptionally preserved fossils found in Hexian County, Anhui Province. This is reported by Global Times, a partner of TV BRICS.

The fossils, estimated to be around 249 million years old, were unearthed from Early Triassic marine strata and later confirmed through detailed anatomical studies to belong to the extinct coelacanth family Whiteiidae.

The find represents two major scientific firsts: it is the earliest fossil evidence of the Whiteiidae family in Asia and the continent’s first record of the Whiteia genus. According to researchers, the fossils were originally discovered near Chaohu Lake and subsequently examined by experts from the Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The newly identified species, named in tribute to pioneering British fossil collector Mary Anning, exhibits a unique combination of skeletal and dental traits that distinguish it from previously known coelacanths. Measuring roughly 42 centimetres in length, Whiteia anniae is notably larger than most other known early Triassic members of its genus.

Experts note that coelacanths – often referred to as “living fossils” – are a rare group of ancient lobe-finned fishes that have survived for hundreds of millions of years. The discovery of Whiteia anniae significantly broadens the known geographical range of early coelacanths and provides valuable evidence for understanding their evolutionary history across continents.

Photo: EvgeniyShkolenko / iStock