Ancient fish fossil reveals new species in Latvia

Palaeontologists in Latvia discovered a new species of ancient fish fossil at the ‘Pavāri-2’ outcrop in the Ciecere River basin.

Valters Alksnītis, a lecturer at the University of Latvia, found the remarkably well-preserved fragment of a lungfish skull during a 2022 excavation. Ervīns Lukševičs, a professor and lead researcher at the University of Latvia, led the team that determined the fossil represented a previously unknown species.

Researchers believe the fish lived approximately 360 million years ago, when Latvia was covered by a shallow tropical sea and a large delta existed in the Kurzeme region. The team collaborated with experts from Sweden and Australia to analyze the fossil and confirm its unique characteristics. The new species, named Jumisodus latus, honors Jumis, a Latvian deity associated with fertility. Scientists noted the contours of the fish’s tooth plates resembled the Jumis symbol, inspiring the name.

This discovery adds to the understanding of vertebrate evolution during the Devonian period. The University of Latvia’s Department of Geology continues to explore Latvia’s Devonian deposits, which Lukševičs describes as a “world-class treasure trove” for researchers of ancient fish.