Swimming Fossil

by Craig Wood

Title

Swimming Fossil

Artist

Craig Wood

Medium

Photograph - Photo

Description

The Asian arowana, also referred to as dragon fish, is a representative of one of the oldest lineages of ray-finned fish, the Osteoglossomorpha.
“The arowana belongs to a very old group of fish which you could refer to as living fossils,” said Christopher Austin, a Professor of Tropical Biology and the Genomics Cluster Leader for Monash University Malaysia’s Tropical Medicine and Biology Multidisciplinary Program.
“One of the things we’re interested in is: where does it fit in the family tree of fishes? Our study indicates that arowana is the most primitive of the modern fishes,” he added.
The study appeared online recently in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution.
“The evolutionary position of the arowana has been disputed in scientific literature – whether it’s the arowana group or the eel group that’s the most primitive form,” Prof. Austin explained.
“Some recent publications suggested eels, but our publication suggests the arowana, which agrees with the more traditional scientific studies.”
“Its appearance has not changed much over a very long period of geological time, and we’re talking millions and millions of years. But just because you’re primitive doesn’t mean you’re obsolete.” The Asian arowana, sometimes also referred to as dragon fish, is a representative of one of the oldest lineages of ray-finned fish, the Osteoglossomorpha.
“The arowana belongs to a very old group of fish which you could refer to as living fossils,” said team member Christopher Austin, a Professor of Tropical Biology and the Genomics Cluster Leader for Monash University Malaysia’s Tropical Medicine and Biology Multidisciplinary Program.
“One of the things we’re interested in is: where does it fit in the family tree of fishes? Our study indicates that arowana is the most primitive of the modern fishes,” he added.
The study appeared online recently in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution.
“The evolutionary position of the arowana has been disputed in scientific literature – whether it’s the arowana group or the eel group that’s the most primitive form,” Prof. Austin explained
Photograph is the copyright property of Craig Wood and cannot be copied or used without permission. FAA watermark will not appear on prints purchased.

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February 12th, 2016

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