Newly Discovered Eel is a "Living Fossil"

Scientists have discovered a new (to science) species of eel that is remarkably unlike modern eels and remarkably like eels that lived 200 million years ago.

Its a tiny little thing. So far, the only ones they've found are between 3 and 4 inches long and only located in an underwater cave 113 feet down off the island of Palau in the Pacific.

'Fossil eel' squirms into the record books

The small brown fish has very few of the anatomical characteristics of modern eels, a vast range whose 819 species are grouped into 19 families.

In contrast, it has many hallmarks of primitive eels which lived in the early Mesozoic era, back when dinosaurs ruled the Earth.

The similarities include a disproportionately large head, a short compressed body, collar-like openings on the gills, rays on the caudal fin and a jawbone tip called a premaxilla.

I always think its very cool when new species are discovered and particularly cool when ones that should have died out long ago are discovered. Who know what else may be swimming about down there?

reply to post by Frogs

Interesting. But how does this relate to Ron Paul?

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Kidding. Great find and a fascinating story about how much we still have to explore.
Cheers

reply to post by beezzer


Hmmm...well lets see. The eels have been around for a long time but have only recently been discovered by the mainstream - kinda like Ron Paul.

How's that?

I thought everything is giant during the dinosaur period. That eel looks small.

Originally posted by Frogs
reply to post by beezzer

 

Hmmm...well lets see. The eels have been around for a long time but have only recently been discovered by the mainstream - kinda like Ron Paul.

How's that?

Brilliant!

Apologies, but with every thread having a Ron Paul theme, I had to keep it up.

Great find. Wish we could spend more money on discoveries like this instead of (fill in the blank)!

Nice find! The question is, did they survive all this time in that cave or did they swim in through a time portal? Inquiring minds want to know!

Never mind Ron Paul, we need to work in HAARP and Elenin for the win! Bonus points for Nibiru!

Originally posted by SheeplFlavoredAgain
Nice find! The question is, did they survive all this time in that cave or did they swim in through a time portal? Inquiring minds want to know!

Never mind Ron Paul, we need to work in HAARP and Elenin for the win! Bonus points for Nibiru!

My guess (and that's all it is) is they had kind of an isolated environment in that cave and can survive there. Of course, it does make you wonder what else is lurking out in the isolated depths of the sea.