New Coelacanth Species Discovered in China Sheds Light on Ancient Fish Evolution

Palaeontologists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have identified a new species of coelacanth, an ancient lineage of lobe-finned fishes, from Early Triassic deposits in China’s Anhui province. The discovery of Whiteia anniae marks the first record of the genus Whiteia in Asia and significantly broadens its known geographical distribution, offering new insights into the evolutionary history of these prehistoric fishes.

Ancient Survivors with Evolutionary Significance

Coelacanths are a group of sarcopterygian, or lobe-finned, fishes that first appeared in the Early Devonian period, over 400 million years ago. They reached peak diversity in the Early Triassic before declining after the mid-Cretaceous. Once thought extinct, their rediscovery in the 20th century astonished scientists. These “living fossils” are known for their distinctive limb-like fins, unique physiology, and remarkable evolutionary stability despite surviving multiple mass extinctions.

Discovery of Whiteia anniae in Anhui Province

The newly described species, “Whiteia anniae”, lived around 249 million years ago during the Smithian age of the Early Triassic. Two well-preserved specimens were unearthed from marine rock layers in Maoshankou, Anhui. The fossils indicate a body length between 41 and 46 cm, making “Whiteia anniae” notably larger than most previously known members of its genus. Prior species of “Whiteia” were typically small and slender, ranging from 11.5 cm to 27 cm in length.

Expanding the Range of an Ancient Genus

Before this discovery, “Whiteia” fossils had been found in Madagascar, South Africa, Canada, and Greenland, but never in Asia. The identification of “Whiteia anniae” thus extends the genus’s known distribution and highlights Asia’s role in the early diversification of coelacanths. Researchers suggest the new species bridges the size gap between smaller “Whiteia” species of Europe and Africa and the much larger “Whiteia giganteus” from North America, which exceeded one metre in length.

Exam Oriented Facts

• “Whiteia anniae” lived about 249 million years ago during the Early Triassic period.
• The fossils were discovered in Maoshankou, Anhui Province, China.
• Coelacanths are lobe-finned fishes belonging to the subclass Sarcopterygii.
• The research was published on October 17, 2025, in the journal “Scientific Reports”.

Revising the Understanding of Coelacanth Diversity

Lead researcher Dr. Guang-Hui Xu noted that the discovery challenges the traditional view of coelacanths as morphologically conservative. Fossil evidence, including “Whiteia anniae”, reveals that their body forms were far more diverse than once believed. The finding underscores the evolutionary adaptability of coelacanths and their enduring role in understanding vertebrate evolution from sea to land.