Unveiling the Past: 15-Million-Year-Old Fish Fossil Found with Last Meal Intact!

Paleontologists in New South Wales have made an incredible discovery: fossils of a 15 million-year-old freshwater fish, named Ferruaspis brocksi, have been unearthed, representing a new species for science. Astonishingly, some specimens still contain the remains of their last meals, including insect larvae and a bivalve. This important find, detailed in a March 17 study published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, sheds light on ancient ecosystems in Australia.

As the first freshwater smelt fossil found in the Osmeriformes order in Australia, these remains provide critical insights into when smelt arrived on the continent. Lead author Matthew McCurry emphasizes how this discovery helps unravel the evolutionary history of these fish and Australia’s wet rainforest past.

Intriguingly, the fossils were embedded in goethite, allowing scientists to observe remarkable detail, including the positions of bones and pigment cells that hint at the fish’s coloration. Co-author Michael Frese notes the significance of identifying melanin-producing melanophores, enabling a first-ever reconstruction of color patterns for ancient fish.

This new knowledge offers a glimpse into the life of F. brocksi, showing it likely fed on various invertebrates, primarily midge larvae. Unraveling these ancient mysteries not only enriches our understanding of biodiversity but also paints a vivid picture of long-lost aquatic worlds.