A groundbreaking collaboration between Chinese and Australian researchers has unveiled new clues about Palaeospondylus – a 400-million-year-old fish that long puzzled scientists. For the first time, fossils of this enigmatic species were discovered outside Scotland, found in Australia’s Georgina Basin, according to the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Using advanced CT scanning and 3D reconstruction, the team mapped complete neurocranial structures of Palaeospondylus australis, resolving over a century of debate about its evolutionary lineage. Published as a cover story in National Science Review, the study reclassifies the creature as part of the cartilaginous fish lineage, challenging prior theories linking it to tetrapod ancestors.
Dr. Lu Jing, lead researcher at IVPP, highlighted the significance of three-dimensionally preserved brain structures: ‘Reconstructing features like semicircular canals provided critical morphological evidence to determine its place in evolutionary history.’
First documented in 1890, the eel-like Palaeospondylus had perplexed scientists due to skeletal anomalies not seen in other fish. Over 1,000 specimens from Scotland offered limited clarity, with hypotheses ranging from jawless hagfish relatives to lobe-finned fish larvae.
The discovery in Early Devonian strata – alongside jawless fish, sharks, and placoderms – extends the species’ known existence by 10 million years. Researchers also pioneered a cross-platform volumetric data method to enhance fossil analysis accuracy, which could revolutionize paleontological studies globally.
This breakthrough underscores Asia’s growing role in interdisciplinary scientific research, offering fresh insights into vertebrate evolution while demonstrating how cutting-edge technology bridges gaps in our understanding of ancient life.
