P. Wagneur /MHNG
Now extinct coelacanth was the target of synchrotron radiation, capable of generating high-energy electrons, which bombard the preserved rocks and reveal the skeleton of the fish.
A European particle accelerator has discovered a new fossil species: it is an extinct coelacanth fish, whose details could only be observed thanks to a scan 3D made with advanced technology that allowed the entire interior of the species to be revealed in a non-invasive way.
The responsible institution is the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), located in Grenoble, France. The fossils analyzed date back to 240 million yearsand the level of precision of the analysis made it possible to uncover even some aspects of the behavior of these extinct animals.
Coelacanth non-particle accelerator
Coelacanths are an aquatic species that has inhabited the Earth for around 400 million years, and there are currently only two living species — Latimeria chalumnae e Latimeria menadoensis. These species, because they have undergone little change over millions of years, are often nicknamed “living fossils”. The remains used in this study were found in Middle Triassic clay nodules near Saverne, a town in France.
The synchrotron is capable of generating high-energy electrons, which bombard preserved rocks and reveal the skeleton of fish, which present characteristics never seen before. The “virtual fossil” produced allowed us to describe its aspects and identify a new species: Graulia branchiodonta.
The first name refers to a French mythological creature from the Lorraine region, where the remains were found, called Graoully. The second name alludes to the fish’s large teeth, located next to its gills.
The state of preservation of the fossil was excellent, allowing the discovery of anatomical details, such as its sensory canals — which indicates a very active species, unlike current species of the genus Latimeriawhich are notoriously slow. This suggests that the extinct fish likely occupied a different ecological niche or exhibited distinct behavior.
Additionally, the extinct animal had a large swim bladder, used to regulate buoyancy, breathing, and possibly even hearing. However, the presence of this highly developed organ still raises doubts among scientists. Studies like this, led by the University of Geneva, are opening new perspectives for the non-invasive study of fossils.
