An extraordinary paleontological treasure has been unearthed from the Gogo Formation in Kimberley, Western Australia: an astonishingly well-preserved heart from an extinct creature that lived during the Devonian period.
According to a publication in the journal Science, the obtained fossil also includes a portion of the liver, stomach, and intestines, belonging to an extinct species of ancient jawed fish known as Arthrodires. Arthrodires had a bizarre appearance, with a thick armored shell encasing its body, thriving during the Devonian period (419.2 to 358.9 million years ago).
Close-up of the astonishing fossilized heart – (Photo: CURTIN UNIVERSITY)
The research team, led by Professor Kate Trinajstic from the Curtin School of Molecular and Life Sciences (part of Curtin University, Australia) and the Western Australian Museum, stated that this is a remarkable discovery since soft tissues of ancient species are rarely preserved in fossil form.
She also revealed that this is the first soft tissue fossil she has found in her 20 years of working in paleontology, not to mention the specimen’s appearance resembling that of a mummy – in a 3D form.
The fossil is described as a “dream” for paleontologists, providing a “window” for them to gain a timeless view of evolutionary history.
Researchers utilized a new X-ray scanning technique to scan the specimens still embedded in limestone, subsequently constructing three-dimensional images of the soft tissues within them, based on the density of different minerals deposited by bacteria and the surrounding rock matrix.
This extraordinary discovery, particularly the heart – which is the most well-preserved part, offers countless new details about the condition of this mysterious creature, as the ancient jawed fish Arthrodires represents a significant “evolutionary leap” in the realm of paleontology.
They serve as a bridge between primitive jawless animals and more advanced vertebrates, our ancestors.
“These fish actually have a heart in their mouth, located beneath the gills – similar to modern sharks,” SciTech Daily quoted Professor Trinajstic discussing the creature’s unusual body structure, a fact that has been validated for the first time through direct fossil evidence.
By employing modern scanning techniques, the research team was able to explore the details of this organ system without causing any destruction, thus preserving this paleontological treasure for future studies.
