Ancient fish bones reveal clues about the evolution of eating

Long before the first mammals walked the Earth, the oceans were home to strange, powerful fish. Some of these ancient fish eventually crawled onto land and kicked off a new chapter in evolution.

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Now, thanks to new fossil research, we're learning even more about how these early animals lived - and ate.

In a new study led by scientists from Flinders University, researchers examined jawbones from 380-million-year-old lungfish found in Western Australia’s remote Gogo fossil field.

The findings shed light on the evolution of feeding strategies in fish that are closely related to all land-dwelling vertebrates, including us.

Biting power of ancient fish

The researchers used 3D finite element modeling (FEM) a tool more commonly seen in engineering. They digitally tested how different fossilized jaws handled biting stress.