Prehistoric sea-giant – Zurich researched the feeding behaviour of Dino-FischDie 380 million years ago living tank of fish had been a so-called filter feeders, such as scientists from the University of Zurich have found out.To have Plankton feeds: Artificial visualization of the titanium ichthys.University of Zurich/Mark WittonIm Moroccan part of the Sahara found academics Remains of the giant armored fish.University of Zurich/Christian Klug1 / 2
A researcher of the University of Zurich, has for the first time, found out how a prehistoric sea-giant-fed: similar to a basking shark. The five-Meter-long armoured fish lived 380 million years ago.
In the Moroccan part of the Sahara desert, scientists found pieces found from the late Devonian, such as the University of Zurich announced on Wednesday. The researchers recovered the Remains of huge tanks of fish whose body length exceeded those of a great White shark.
Christian Wise, a researcher at the Paleontological Institute and Museum, University of Zurich, the University of Bristol studied with scientists, like the tank fish titanium ichthys fed. This fish lived 380 million years ago. Its length is estimated to be about five meters, the lower jaw, the reaches similar to the basking shark lengths of over one Meter.
In the research, the scientists at the Titan ichthys on a similar behavior as in today’s whales and giant sharks were. You assume that the tank fish titanium ichthys, was a so-called filter feeders, which glided with wide-open mouth slowly through the water, to high concentrations of Plankton to be filtered out.
Toothless big mouth
the reason to this assumption, the shape of the lower jaw. The is slim, toothless and without sharp edges, suitable for Cutting. In addition, he could not close his mouth completely.
in Order to verify your Thesis, compared to the paleontologists, the lower jaw of various tanks of fish species by means of biomechanical studies. This showed that the lower jaw of the Titan ichthys less robust than the jaws of other tanks of fish that fed on large or hard-shelled prey. In further analyses, the stress distribution in the jaw was compared with living species. The researchers found researchers have similar patterns in the case of titanium ichthys and the basking shark, indicating similar food intake.
“The pine properties of titanium ichthys resemble those of other filter feeders, including baleen whales, the whale shark or the basking shark,” says Christian Smart.
(SDA / chk)