In China, paleontologists have unearthed fossils of two surprisingly large lamprey species from the Jurassic Period.
Found in roughly 160-million-year-old rocks in North China, the Yanliao Biota is a diverse array of beautifully preserved fossils, including dinosaurs, pterosaurs and even early mammals. But it isn’t all fur and feathers. Paleontologists have now unearthed fossils of two surprisingly large ancient lamprey species, swimming menaces that latched onto and bored holes into their unsuspecting neighbors.
Modern parasitic lampreys’ funnel-shaped, toothy mouths tend to be adapted to consume blood or flesh. Based on the arrangement of teeth and other feeding apparatuses in the fossils, theThe fossils are the oldest lamprey specimens to clearly indicate a preference in feeding mode, say paleontologist Feixang Wu of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing and colleagues.
These reconstructions depict the mouth and part of the body of two newly discovered lamprey species that lived 160 million years ago:Lampreys, a lineage of jawless vertebrates, have been around for 360 million years. But they rarely fossilize well, leaving large gaps in their evolutionary record and uncertainty about their ecology and when their feeding styles evolved.
The earliest lampreys weren’t such fierce predators: They were only a few centimeters long and lacked the powerful teeth of later species. They also didn’t have modern lampreys’ distinct life cycle, which consists of a larval filter-feeding stage, a juvenile parasitic stage and an adult spawning stage.
The newfound fossils suggest that by this time in the Jurassic Period, lampreys had become fierce predators, acquiring larger body sizes and complex feeding structures.
Norge Siste Nytt, Norge Overskrifter
Similar News:Du kan også lese nyheter som ligner på denne som vi har samlet inn fra andre nyhetskilder.
Newfound mosasaur was like a giant Komodo dragon with flippersLaura is a science news writer, covering a wide variety of subjects, but she is particularly fascinated by all things aquatic, paleontology, nanotechnology, and exploring how science influences daily life. Laura is a proud former resident of the New Jersey shore, a competitive swimmer, and a fierce defender of the Oxford comma.
Les mer »
Shanghai, China job with East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST)About School of Pharmacy of ECUST Established in September 2004, School of Pharmacy of ECUST is comprised of complementary research programs focused on Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Engineering and Plant Protection.
Les mer »
10 Coolest Magic: The Gathering Cards From The Jurassic World CrossoverMagic: The Gathering’s Lost Caverns Of Ixalan has 26 cards that crossover with Jurassic World’s 30th anniversary. Here are the best revealed so far.
Les mer »
These 10 Minutes From Jurassic Park Are The Most Anxiety-Inducing Of The Whole FranchiseAlthough Jurassic Park is remembered for many stressful moments, there is one scene in the first film that takes it to another level.
Les mer »
Absolutely Massive Species of Jurassic Lamprey UnearthedThe Best in Science News and Amazing Breakthroughs
Les mer »
$20 Million San Francisco Home Offers Period Elegance and Modern LuxuryThe four-story Sea Cliff dwelling is perched high above Baker Beach with postcard-perfect vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Les mer »