New flying fish fossils found in China provide the earliest evidence of vertebrate over-water gliding strategy.
Posted on 10/31/2012 3:55:36 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Chinese researchers have tracked the "exceptionally well-preserved fossils" to the Middle Triassic of China (235-242 million years ago).
The Triassic period saw the re-establishment of ecosystems after the Permian mass extinction.
The fossils represent new evidence that marine ecosystems re-established more quickly than previously thought.
The Permian mass extinction had a bigger impact on the earth's ecological systems than any other mass extinction, wiping out 90-95% of marine species.
Previous studies have suggested that Triassic marine life developed more quickly than was once thought and that marine ecosystems were re-established more rapidly than terrestrial ecosystems...
The fossils show an asymmetrical, forked caudal (tail) fin and a "four-winged" body formation: a pair of enlarged pectoral fins forming "primary wings", and a smaller pair of pelvic fins acting as "auxiliary wings", according to the study.
The fossils were discovered in Guizhou Province in south-west China. They represent the first record of the extinct Thoracopteridae family of fishes to be found in Asia.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
New flying fish fossils found in China provide the earliest evidence of vertebrate over-water gliding strategy.
wow. looks like an artistic engraving
Been there, speculated that: http://speculativeevolution.wikia.com/wiki/Ocean_flish
Your codding me...
That fossil looks like something H.R.Giger would draw.
Who knew fish fossils could fly?
:’) Giger had to get his ideas somewhere. :’)
Now *that* is a fun site!
This was found in China, they actually said “fry”.
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| GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach | |
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Thanks Renfield. |
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imagine it on a coin
Well, if they're fossils.....guess they ain't so damned new, now, are they? [j/k]
Oh, that must be the Chinese translation.
lolz
as God is my witness I thought fish could fry
:)
On the road to Mandalay,
Where the flyin'-fishes play,
An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China 'crost the Bay!
Evidently an early species of Rock Cod
The Chinese will supply you with what you need in fossils. Need wings? How bout feathers. They will get their engravers to work on it.
Hows about a flying turtle!
I can tell it’s a flying fish by the feather imprints. ‘Course everyhing had feathers back then except birds.
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