Researchers from the Llewellyn I. Price Paleontological Research Center at the Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM) in Peirópolis, Brazil, announced this week the discovery of a new species of fossil fish, named Britosteus amarildoi. This significant find was made at a paleontological site in Campina Verde, dating back to the late Cretaceous period, approximately 80 million years ago.
The research team, which includes Brazilian and Argentine scientists from institutions such as UFTM and the Bernardino Rivadavia Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences, highlighted the unique morphological characteristics of this small fish, measuring less than 50 centimeters in length, with a short, rounded snout and tiny conical teeth suited for capturing small prey.
This discovery is crucial as it enhances our understanding of the diversity of fish that inhabited continental environments during the Mesozoic Era, a time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Currently, only seven living species of Lepisosteiformes exist, but the past was marked by a much greater diversity and distribution.
Additionally, the species name honors two significant contributors to Brazilian paleontology. The specific epithet 'amarildoi' commemorates Amarildo Martins Queiroz, a former owner of the Três Antas farm, who aided researchers and discovered the first crocodile fossils at the site. The genus name 'Britosteus' pays tribute to Professor Paulo Brito, a noted Brazilian paleontologist recognized for his work on fossil fish fauna from Gondwana.
Since 2011, the Três Antas farm has served as an important paleontological research site, yielding significant discoveries like the prehistoric crocodiles Campinasuchus dinizi and Caipirasuchus mineirus, along with the newly identified fish species.