13/06/2026
🐟 New research by Corinne Mensforth and colleagues, published in "Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution", has uncovered remarkable new details about the ancient lobe-finned fish "Koharalepis jarviki" from the Late Devonian Period.
The fossil comes from the Aztec Siltstone at Mt Crean in the Lashly Mountains and represents one of the rarest members of early tetrapodomorph fishes.
Using advanced imaging tools, researchers were able to look inside the fossil without damaging it.
They revealed hidden anatomy for the first time, including:
– parts of the braincase and skull
– jaw structures with sharp fangs
– parts of the spine and
– sensory systems linked to smell and light detection.
These details show a fish built for ambush hunting in shallow freshwater environments, with small eyes and a strong biting system.
The study confirms "Koharalepis" as part of the canowindrids, a rare group of East Gondwanan fishes that are important for understanding early vertebrate evolution and the transition toward land animals.
Because these fossils are so scarce, this single specimen is one of the most important ever studied from this group, especially since it preserves internal anatomy in 3D.
👉 To read more visit https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ecology-and-evolution/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1765271/full
🖼 Life reconstruction of "Koharalepis jarviki" by Courtesy Thomas Turner.
Flinders University
