【New evidence of the oldest fossil of the wartfish family Panzhou tyrannosaur Updated people's understanding of the recovery of marine ecosystems in the Triassic Period】 Xu Guanghui's research team from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences found a large carnivorous basal stem new fin fish in Panzhou, Guizhou Province, named Panzhou Tyrannosaurus. It is 26 cm long, representing new evidence of the oldest fossils in the family Wartfish and the first discovery of the genus Tyrannosaurus in Guizhou. The discovery and study of the Panzhou storm fish has revealed the ecological adaptation diversity of the previously unknown wartfish family, and updated people's understanding of the recovery of marine ecosystems in the Triassic Period. The study found that the Panzhou tyrannosaur evolved a different ecological adaptation from the previously discovered Yunnan tyrannosaur and all other wartfish fish, showing a more "rough and fierce" side: with a large, obese and even somewhat hunchbacked body, full of thicker tumor spots, five large protruding teeth on the upper and lower jaw mouth margins, and large grinding teeth in the mouth, making the prey shudder. Functional morphological analysis shows that the Swimming Speed of Panzhou Storm Fish is slightly slower than that of other warty fish, but its swimming balance performance is better, which is conducive to movement and predation in complex environments such as submarine rocks and reefs. In terms of feeding habits, Panzhou stormfish prefer to prey such as benthic, slower swimming, and hard-shelled gastropods and bivalves, rather than chasing fish and cephalopods that swim faster. The discovery of the Pangzhou storm fish further validates that a mature and complex ecosystem was established in the South China Sea (Eastern Gutis Ocean) in the early Middle Triassic. (Guangming Daily all-media reporter Qi Fang) Picture 1, Panzhou storm fish restoration map; 2, Panzhou rainstorm normal specimen (provided by the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
Source: Guangming Daily