Prehistoric fish makes headlines

06/18/2004 10:58

Brazilian scientists made a sensational discovery.

An unknown kind of fish, which could be easily considered a living fossil, has been found in the deep cavities of the Atlantic ocean, not far away from Rio de Janeiro.

사진#1

브라질 과학자들은 17일 리우데 자네이루 해안의 400~600m 해저에서 새 어종인 히드로라구스 마탈란시(Hydrolagus metallanasi)를 발견했다고 밝혔다. 30~40cm 길이의 이 물고기는 키메라종(種)이며 남대서양의 심해에서 1억5000만년 동안 지내온 것으로 과학자들은 추정했다.

This particular type of fish, which Brazilian scientists named Hydrolagus metallanasi, belongs to the chimera subspecies. The species practically haven't evolved for the last 150 million years.

"Chimaeras belong to the class of Chondrichthyes along with sharks and skates," informed one of the scientists Jules Soto. "They are the most primitive and can be considered the living fossils, since their predecessors inhabited the planet some 350 million years ago. They witnessed all cataclysms and ploughed the ocean millions of years before the first dinosaurs," reports RIA "Novosti".

The 40 cm long fish dwells at great depths, in gigantic sea cavities (up to 700-800 meters). That is why it couldn't have been discovered earlier. Its skin is made up of sensitive nerve endings, which enable the creature to detect even the slightest movement in total darkness. Despite its dwelling place so far beneath the surface, chimera is not blind. She's got big eyes that enable her to see in the darkness.

Another Brazilian scientist of Dutch decent Mark von Roosmalen has made another revolutionary discovery. He was able to find a new kind of wild boar in the thickets of Amazon forests.

The animal is 130 cm long and 30 cm tall. In contrast to his congeners, this Amazon boar has long and thin legs and appears to be slightly thinner than the rest of the wild pigs.

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