Discovery of 380-Million-Year-Old Air-Breathing Fish in Australia

A new species of Devonian tetrapodomorph fish, Harajicadectes zhumini, showcases early air-breathing adaptation.

A team led by Flinders University paleontologist Brian Choo discovered the fossils of Harajicadectes zhumini, a Devonian tetrapodomorph fish, in central Australia.
The fish, living around 380 million years ago, had large spiracles on its skull for air-breathing, a trait shared with modern African bichir fish.
This adaptation is thought to have provided an evolutionary advantage during a period of decreased atmospheric oxygen in the mid-Devonian.
Harajicadectes zhumini also featured large fangs and bony scales, indicating a predatory lifestyle.
The discovery contributes to understanding the evolution of air-breathing in fish and the transition to limbed tetrapods.