Chinese paleontologists have identified a new species of Coelacanth, Whiteia anniae, based on two fossil specimens. This breakthrough expands the geographic presence of the genus Whiteia, marking the oldest record of this genus in Asia, which predates the earliest known pyloid coelacanth in this continent by 9 million years.
Whiteia anniae Right side view, holotype. Image credit: Dai et al., doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-20229-w.
“Coelacanths are a fascinating group of sarcopterygian fishes, with two extant marine species from the genus Latimeria,” stated lead author Dr. Guan Hui Shu, a paleontologist at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and colleagues.
“This group first appeared in the Early Devonian, peaked in taxonomic diversity during the Early Triassic, but saw a decline starting in the Middle Cretaceous.”
“Coelacanths play a crucial role in evolutionary biology due to their distinctive physiological and anatomical characteristics, as well as their resilience through four major extinction events over hundreds of millions of years.”
The discovery of Latimeria previously ignited discussions on how this unusual lobe-finned fish relates to the evolution of terrestrial animals.
“Given their evolutionary stability, coelacanths have long been viewed as one of the most morphologically conservative vertebrate groups.”
“However, some research, particularly those focusing on Triassic fossils, indicate that coelacanth body shapes exhibit greater diversity than previously recognized.”
“Recent discoveries of new species around the globe continue to yield significant insights into the evolution of coelacanths.”
The newly identified species, Whiteia anniae, lived during the Smithian stage of the Early Triassic, approximately 249 million years ago.
This fish belongs to the genus Whiteia, an extinct group of coelacanths that were previously known from Madagascar, South Africa, Canada, and Greenland, but not from Asia.
“As the first record in Asia, this new finding from the Early Triassic dramatically broadens the geographic distribution of the genus Whiteia and is a significant addition to our understanding of the evolution of this major Triassic coelacanth lineage,” stated the paleontologists.
Two specimens of Whiteia anniae were discovered in Late Triassic marine deposits at Maoshankou in Anhui Province, China.
Fossil evidence suggests that this coelacanth measured between 41 and 46 centimeters in length, making it notably larger than other named species within its genus.
“Previously reported Whiteia species from the Early Triassic were typically small, ranging from 11.5 to 27 cm in length, and a slender body shape was once believed to be a defining characteristic of the genus,” the researchers explained.
“While there has been a recent trend of recovery, the Whiteia giganteus (estimated to exceed 100 cm in length) from Texas illustrates a period in which the genus achieved larger body sizes during the Late Triassic in North America.”
“The recovery of Whiteia anniae provides an intriguing example of a smaller species, in contrast to larger relatives in Europe, Africa, and North America.”
The team’s study was published on October 17th in the journal Scientific Reports.
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QH.Large et al. 2025. A new species of coelacanth (Actinistia, Sarcopterygii) from the Early Triassic period of Anhui Province, China. Scientific Reports 15, 36320; doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-20229-w
Source: www.sci.news
