Discovering the Ancient Fish with a Flat Head: A Key to Understanding Human Evolution

In a groundbreaking discovery, paleontologists have found conclusive evidence of the missing link in the development of the human hand - an ancient fish-like creature with arm-like fins. The fascinating fossil was discovered in Canada and has shed new light on the evolution of our hands.

Meet Elpistostege watsoni, a 1.57-meter-long marine predator that lived during the Late Devonian period, around 393-359 million years ago. This ancient fish was not your average fish with its fanged jaws and flat head, but it had a unique feature - fins that resembled human arms and hands.

Researchers from the Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science used high-energy CT-scans to analyze a fossil found in Canada in 2010, revealing the striking similarity between the fish's fins and human limbs. According to Richard Cloutier, a professor at the centre, 'Elpistostege is one of the most beautiful creatures that lived on Earth.'

The discovery challenges our previous understanding of how the human hand evolved. Scientists have long believed that it emerged from an ancient, four-limbed creature. However, this finding suggests that our hands may have actually originated from a meter-long fish with arm-like fins that lived around 380 million years ago.

This incredible discovery provides paleontologists with valuable insights into the evolution of human limbs and challenges our understanding of what we thought was possible in ancient times. The Elpistostege watsoni fossil is an extraordinary example of how nature has evolved over millions of years, shaping the diversity of life on Earth.

In conclusion, the finding of this ancient fish with a flat head offers a new perspective on human evolution and highlights the fascinating journey our species has taken to become what we are today.

Fish with flat head