Fish fossils found in China may shed light on origin of man

Chinese scientists have announced that fossils of fish species that lived over 405 million years ago in southern China may shed exciting new light on the origin of human beings, the state media reported on Thursday.

Chinese scientists have announced that fossils of fish species that lived over 405 million years ago in southern China may shed exciting new light on the origin of human beings, the state media reported on Thursday.Secrets of the ancient creature’s skull were unveiled by Chinese scientists in the latest issue of the British Nature magazine.

Zhu Min and his team of researchers at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, found the fossils of the ancient fish twice in 2001 and in 2002 in Qujing of southwest China’s Yunnan province, the China Daily reported.

In the following three years, the Chinese scientists discovered that the creature was one of the most ancient species of fish, the only kind found with aspects of two different types of ancient fish.

Story continues below this ad

One, the ray-finned bony fish, includes the majority of modern fish species while the other, the lobe-finned bony fish, allegedly ‘‘crawled’’ out of water millions of years ago to evolve into today’s reptiles and human beings.

The link between the two has been missing, casting doubt on the evolution of ancient fish, Zhu said.

Zhu and his fellow researchers gave the ancient fish species a Chinese name ‘‘chenxiao miman fish’’ which literally means ‘‘fish of the dawn.’’

Canada, UK and Australia formally recognise a Palestinian state

World11 hr ago

The UK, Canada, and Australia have recognized Palestine as a state, going against the US and Israel's opposition. British PM Starmer aims to revive peace without Hamas and hostage release. Canada and Australia also recognize Palestine, condemning terrorism. Over 145 UN members recognize Palestine, with France likely to join soon.

View all shorts

Live Blog