Mato Grosso discovery reveals new 254-million-year-old fish species

Researchers have identified a new species of prehistoric fish, named Leolepis matogrossensis, from a fossil found in Alto Garças, Mato Grosso. The study, which included participation from the University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Uerj), describes a specimen that lived approximately 254 million years ago during the Upper Permian.

The fossil is noted for its exceptional preservation, featuring nearly the entire body of the 15-centimeter-long fish. This is a rare find compared to other specimens from the era in Brazil, which are typically limited to isolated teeth or bone fragments. The fish belonged to the actinopterygii group, which includes modern species like tuna and salmon. Its scales were notably composed of dentin and enamel, similar to human teeth.

The discovery provides insight into the ecosystem of the supercontinent Gondwana, where South America and Africa were still joined. Based on its teeth, researchers believe the species fed on small invertebrates and plants. This find helps reconstruct biological life shortly before the Permo-Triassic extinction event, the largest mass extinction in Earth's history.