The 380 million year old heart

It is the oldest one found to date. Where did the 380-million-year-old heart appear? In Australia. A group of scientists found it. The fossilized organ will give new clues about the evolution of life on Earth. This was reported Friday by academic sources.

This organ was inside an extinct prehistoric placoderm fish. It was found together with its stomach, liver and intestine. It is 250 million years older than the previous vertebrate heart found in Brazil in the past decade. This is according to a statement from Curtin University.

The 380-million-year-old heart is magnificently preserved.
The 380-million-year-old heart is magnificently preserved.

Evolved heart

The mineralized heart was found in the Gogo rock formation. It is an ancient prehistoric reef located in the remote Kimberley area of Western Australia. What is remarkable about the find? It is that this organ has been preserved with its soft tissues and in three dimensions.

“I am a paleontologist who has studied fossils for more than 20 years. And I am very surprised to find a beautifully preserved, 3-D heart in a 380-million-year-old ancestor.” This was said in a statement by the leader of this study, Kate Trinajstic. She is an expert at Curtin University and the Western Australian Museum.

The research was published in the journal Science. It also revealed that the position of the heart was closer to the mouth and gills. This is a very similar anatomical configuration to that of modern sharks.

“Evolution is often thought of as a series of small steps. But these fossils suggest there was a major leap between jawless and jawed vertebrates,” they explained.

The evolution of the heart already showed some similarities to the modern heart.
The evolution of the heart already showed some similarities with the modern heart.

Without lungs

The studies were done with sophisticated X-ray and neutron beam techniques. The heart is “s” shaped and has two chambers, the smaller one located on top of the larger one. This prehistoric armored fish had a very large liver that allowed it to float, just like today’s sharks. It is not known if they had lungs, organs that are believed to have developed later.

Scientists from Australia, France and Sweden participated in the study of the 380-million-year-old heart. A real treasure trove for paleontologists.

Click to rate this entry!
(Votes: 0 Average: 0)
Share!

Leave a Comment