Ongoing research around the world allows us to learn more about the species that lived on our planet millions of years ago. A study published today in Nature reveals that a new discovery could help us unravel the mysteries of animal evolution.

Researchers in the study led by Rodrigo Figueora, a doctoral student from the University of Michigan in the US, lived 319 million years ago discovered the fossilized brain of a fish The scientists described their findings as “the earliest example of a well-preserved vertebrate brain.”

319 million year old brain preserved in detail thanks to a dense mineral

First of all, let’s mention that the skull was found in England over a century ago. But with today’s modern imaging techniques, the brain can be studied. The researchers found that the fish the skull belonged to was a type of ray-finned fish called the “fish.”Coccocephalus willHe said it was Tues. We can say that the current examples of ray-finned fish, among which there are more than 30 thousand species, are trout or swordfish.

Paleontologist Sam Giles also commented on the work.“This unexpected discovery of a 3D preserved vertebrate brain gives us surprising insights into the neural anatomy of ray-finned fish.” used the sentences. Giles also adds that the fossil allows them to better describe how and when today’s fish evolved, adding that they encountered much more complex evolution.

The researchers used CT scanning technology seen in human medical imaging to look inside the skull without damaging it. The result is a well preserved brain and 2.5 cm long nerves they found it. Protection is also a replacement for the brain and nerves. with minerals stated to have taken place.

The brain has also been compared to modern animals

It was also stated that the brain can be compared to the animals of today. Scientists have found that extant similar fish have brains that fold out as the embryo develops; however, he noted that it folded inwards in Coccocephalus. This is the brain to better understand the timeline of its evolution researchers helped.

Moreover, according to Giles, the brain is described as a primitive fish. to sturgeon He added that it was similar. These species were characterized as such because they diverged from ray-finned fishes 300 million years ago.

We know that fossilized bones are preserved; however, it is quite difficult to maintain soft tissues such as the brain for that long. a rare case. Researchers say modern technologies will allow us to make more similar discoveries in the future than we thought.