In a remarkable discovery, paleontologists have unearthed a fossil of an extinct lamprey dating back 134 million years in Chengde, a city in the Hebei Province of the Chinese mainland. This groundbreaking find was announced by the provincial department of natural resources on Thursday.
The fossil has been identified as Mesomyzon mengae Chang by Zhang Jiangyong, a researcher from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This identification marks the first time the species has been discovered in Hebei, suggesting that Mesomyzon mengae Chang had a much wider geographical range than previously thought, extending beyond Inner Mongolia and western Liaoning to include northern Hebei.
Located in Fengning Manchu Autonomous County, the site of the discovery offers new insights into the distribution of this ancient species. Fossils of Mesomyzon mengae Chang are exceptionally rare due to their lack of hard bones and scales, making this find particularly valuable for scientists studying the evolution of jawless fish since the Mesozoic era.
This discovery not only enriches our understanding of prehistoric marine ecosystems but also highlights the rich paleontological potential of the Hebei region. As researchers continue to explore the area, more findings like this could reshape our knowledge of ancient life on Earth.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
