Chinese scientists have discovered a primitive lobe-finned fish, Zhang's butterflyfish, which is believed to be the closest living relative to the common ancestor of tetrapods and lungfish, dating back 400 million years. This finding not only fills an important gap in evolutionary history but also provides new crucial evidence for exploring the early evolutionary history of lobe-finned fish. The butterflyfish retains some characteristics typical of basal lobe-finned fish while also exhibiting advanced traits found in tetrapods or lungfish. This discovery offers scientists a fossilized proof of the closest common ancestor between tetrapods and lungfish.
The discovery of Zhang's butterflyfish comes from a research team at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Through fossil studies, they have revealed the evolutionary relationship between lobe-finned fish and tetrapods. The finding makes the evolutionary sequence between basal lobe-finned fish and the basal types of tetrapods or lungfish more continuous, providing key clues to solving the origin of lungfish-like and tetrapod-like animals. This discovery deepens our understanding of ancient life and offers new insights into the origins of humanity itself.
