A 150-million-year-old fossil of a cartilaginous fish named Jochen, unearthed in the Altmühltal region of Bavaria, Germany, was recently described by a team led by paleontologist Julia Türtscher from the University of Vienna in the journal PLOS One. This discovery represents the first find of a previously unknown species, offering insights into the evolution of the Batomorphii, a group that includes modern rays.
The fossil, found in Upper Jurassic rock near Painten in Bavaria, is exceptionally well preserved. This level of preservation is unusual, as cartilaginous fishes from that era are typically known only from poorly preserved skeletons, teeth, or tiny skin denticles. According to the Dinosaur Museum Altmühltal, where the fossil is currently on display, Jochen is a novelty for experts due to its unique state.
"Only such perfectly preserved specimens allow researchers to draw conclusions about the living conditions of the ray at that time," said Raimund Albersdörfer, a paleontologist and co-founder of the Dinosaur Museum Altmühltal, according to Bild. "The find expands our understanding of the early developmental stages of rays and their evolutionary branches," he added.
Researchers have noted that Jochen is characterized by "a unique body shape and a combination of skeletal features that clearly distinguish it from all other known rays from the Upper Jurassic," according to PLOS One. This makes Jochen the oldest Upper Jurassic ray taxon from Germany based on skeletal remains.
A spokesperson for the museum mentioned that the name Jochen was chosen randomly. Visitors can view the fossil in the current exhibition at the Dinosaur Museum Altmühltal, providing the public with a chance to witness this paleontological find firsthand.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.