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The oldest articulated osteichthyan reveals mosaic gnathostome characters

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  • Min Zhu

    (Key Laboratory of Evolutionary Systematics of Vertebrates, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, PO Box 643, Beijing 100044, China)

  • Wenjin Zhao

    (Key Laboratory of Evolutionary Systematics of Vertebrates, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, PO Box 643, Beijing 100044, China)

  • Liantao Jia

    (Key Laboratory of Evolutionary Systematics of Vertebrates, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, PO Box 643, Beijing 100044, China)

  • Jing Lu

    (Key Laboratory of Evolutionary Systematics of Vertebrates, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, PO Box 643, Beijing 100044, China
    Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Tuo Qiao

    (Key Laboratory of Evolutionary Systematics of Vertebrates, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, PO Box 643, Beijing 100044, China
    Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Qingming Qu

    (Key Laboratory of Evolutionary Systematics of Vertebrates, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, PO Box 643, Beijing 100044, China
    Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

The evolutionary history of osteichthyans (bony fishes plus tetrapods) extends back to the Ludlow epoch of the Silurian period. However, these Silurian forms have been documented exclusively by fragmentary fossils. Here we report the discovery of an exceptionally preserved primitive fish from the Ludlow of Yunnan, China, that represents the oldest near-complete gnathostome (jawed vertebrate). The postcranial skeleton of this fish includes a primitive pectoral girdle and median fin spine as in non-osteichthyan gnathostomes, but a derived macromeric squamation as in crown osteichthyans, and substantiates the unexpected mix of postcranial features in basal sarcopterygians, previously restored from the disarticulated remains of Psarolepis. As the oldest articulated sarcopterygian, the new taxon offers insights into the origin and early divergence of osteichthyans, and indicates that the minimum date for the actinopterygian–sarcopterygian split was no later than 419 million years ago.

Suggested Citation

  • Min Zhu & Wenjin Zhao & Liantao Jia & Jing Lu & Tuo Qiao & Qingming Qu, 2009. "The oldest articulated osteichthyan reveals mosaic gnathostome characters," Nature, Nature, vol. 458(7237), pages 469-474, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:458:y:2009:i:7237:d:10.1038_nature07855
    DOI: 10.1038/nature07855
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    Cited by:

    1. Xindong Cui & Matt Friedman & Yilun Yu & You-an Zhu & Min Zhu, 2023. "Bony-fish-like scales in a Silurian maxillate placoderm," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

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