Prehistoric fish fossil finding gives world something to chew on

A NEWLY discovered 310-mil- lion-year-old fossilised fish is the earliest known example of one with extra teeth deep inside its mouth.

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The ray-finned fish, found in Staffordshire, evolved a “unique” way of devouring prey, say Midland scientists.

They explained that Platysomus parvulus used a “tongue bite” to devour its prey - a special set of teeth on the floor and roof of its mouth to help it crush and chew tough food, such as shells or insects.

The fossil find, described in the journal Biology Letters, sheds new light on the evolution of extra teeth.

Most fish today use their jaws to bite and chew, but some also have tongue bites, which work like a second set of jaws.