380 million-year-old coelacanth fossil from Western Australia reveals significant tectonic influence on its evolution and species emergence during geological change.

A newly discovered coelacanth fossil, Ngamugawi wirngarri, from the Gogo Formation in Western Australia, reveals that tectonic activity significantly influenced coelacanth evolution over the past 380 million years. Researchers found that new species were more likely to emerge during periods of heightened geological change, rather than due to ocean temperature or oxygen levels. This study enhances our understanding of the evolutionary connections between coelacanths and tetrapods.

September 12, 2024
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