New fossil of Arowana species discovered in China

Holotype of Scleropages sinensis (IVPP V 13672.2) in left lateral view. (Photo: Zhang Jiangyong/IVPP]

Comparison between Scleropages sinensis (A) and S. formosus (B), S. leichardti (C). (Photo: Zhang Jiangyong/IVPP)

Chinese and Canadian scientists have announced they've discovered a complete fossil of a new species of osteoglossid fish, Scleropages sinensis species nova, from the Early Eocene period (54 to 48 million years ago) in the Xiawanpu Formation in Hunan province and the Yangxi Formation in Hubei province, central China, according to Vertebrata PalAsiatica.

In a paper published in the latest issue of Vertebrata PalAsiatica, Dr. Zhang Jiangyong, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Dr. Mark Wilson, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, reported the discovery which dates the divergence of Scleropagesand Osteoglossum back to at least the Early Eocene period.

The discovery is considered as a significant step toward solving the zoogeographical puzzle of the distribution of osteoglossids, with all previously known fossil records of Scleropages, an ancient form of fish found in areas including Southeast Asia and Australia.

The Asian arowana, more commonly known as the dragon fish, is a living relative of the new fossil.