Pegasus volans: An Ancient Fish Species That Has Baffled Scientists for Centuries
The fossils of this peculiar fish, discovered from the Eocene Epoch around 50 million years ago in the Bolca Lagerstätte region of northern Italy, have sparked numerous hypotheses, yet no definitive answers have emerged regarding its identity and position in the evolutionary tree.
In the 18th century, researcher Giovanni Serafino Volta named this fish Pegasus volans, believing it to be the larval form of the similarly named moth. However, over the years, this idea has been dismissed. Scientists, including paleontologist Donald Davesne from the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, argue that Volta’s hypothesis does not align with the morphology of this species. Davesne remarked: “They have nothing in common. I don’t know what he was thinking.”
Reconstruction of the Pegasus volans fish.
In 2014, another study suggested that Pegasus volans might belong to the order Lampriformes, a group of fish that includes oarfish, ribbonfishes, and crestfishes. However, this conclusion quickly came under scrutiny when newly discovered fossils did not support this hypothesis. Although two nearly complete fossils have been found—one at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris and another at the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale in Verona, Italy—both are missing the tail end, complicating efforts to accurately identify this fish.
With its ribbon-like body and bulging skull, the fossil of Pegasus volans exhibits a bizarre shape unlike any modern fish. This has made it challenging for scientists to determine whether it was a larva, juvenile, or adult fish. While various hypotheses have been proposed regarding its lifestyle—such as its long fins potentially aiding in camouflage from predators or serving a sensory function—there is still insufficient evidence to confirm any of these ideas.
Fossil of the Pegasus volans fish.
While the initial theory linking this species to the moth Pegasus volitans has been dismissed, scientists are now considering the possibility that it belongs to the group Acanthomorphs, which includes fish with spiny fins. Although no final conclusions have been reached, Davesne and co-author Giorgio Carnevale have proposed a new genus name, inspired by a famous deceased musician, but this information will only be released when the official study is published.
Currently, identifying Pegasus volans remains a significant challenge for scientists. Despite eliminating many false hypotheses, the question of what this fish truly is remains unanswered.
