Science
Fossil Reveals Bizarre 'Tooth Cushions' of Ancient Predator
A new fossil from southern China reveals that a meter-long bony fish from 425 million years ago had unique clusters of spiky teeth on soft tissue 'cushions' — a jaw design never seen before.
Key Takeaways
- Meter-long Silurian predator had teeth on soft tissue cushions rather than anchored to jawbone
- Discovery reveals early vertebrate jaw evolution explored far more diverse designs than previously known
- Micro-CT scanning revealed graded internal structure providing both flexibility and bite support
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DT Editorial AI··via phys.org