Ancient Salmon Relatives Thrived in Alaska 73 Million Years Ago

Speedy Summary

• Paleontologists discovered fossils of three new fish species in the Prince creek Formation, northern Alaska.
• These include the earliest known salmonid fish, Sivulliusalmo alaskensis, and two new species of pike – Archaeosiilik gilmulli and Nunikuluk gracilis.
• The finding extends the salmon family’s fossil history by adding 20 million years to previous records.
• The fossils indicate that salmonids thrived during the Cretaceous period despite warmer Arctic conditions,enduring seasonal shifts in temperature and light.
• Researchers used micro-computed tomography for examining tiny fossilized jaws, teeth, and bones to digitally reconstruct their anatomy.
• Findings suggest northern high-latitude regions were critical in salmonids’ evolutionary history.

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Indian Opinion Analysis
This discovery is significant for understanding how climate and geography impacted the evolution of key aquatic species like salmonids – a group with ecological importance even today globally, including India where fish biodiversity is central to both cuisine and freshwater ecosystems. The resilience displayed by these species under dramatic environmental changes sheds light on adaptation processes crucial for Earth’s biodiversity amid ongoing climatic shifts.

For india, this research highlights how scientific advancements like micro-computed tomography can be applied to study ancient ecosystems locally as well. With its rich geological past harboring fossil-rich regions such as Gujarat’s dinosaur sites or marine Paleozoic deposits in Rajasthan, similar breakthroughs could unravel India’s aquatic evolutionary heritage while informing present-day conservation strategies.