The most detailed anatomical reconstruction of a Mesozoic coelacanth
The most detailed anatomical reconstruction of a Mesozoic coelacanth
Although the split of coelacanths from other sarcopterygians is ancient, around 420 million years ago, the taxic diversity and the morphological disparity of the clade have remained relatively low, with a few exceptions. This supposedly slow evolutionary pace has earned the extant coelacanth Latimer...
The incredible quality of conservation of two complete and 3D preserved specimens from the Middle Triassic Muschelkalk of Lorraine, Eastern France, combined with the latest X-ray technologies, has allowed a complete description of an extinct coelacanth with an unprecedented level of detail, comparable to the work carried out on the skeleton of extant species. Most skeletal elements were deeply embedded in the rock matrix and perfectly preserved, only the external surface of some bones had been slightly damaged during mechanical preparation.
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Very cool!