When did the first fish live on Earth – and how do scientists figure out the timing?

When did the first fish live on Earth – and how do scientists figure out the timing?

By Isaac Skromne

Source: roanoke

7/18/2022

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com.

How do you figure out how long ago fish were created? Hundreds of millions of years is a long time ago. – Josh, age 11, Ephrata, Pennsylvania

The oldest fossils of animals resembling a fish date back between 518 million and 530 million years ago. Discovered in China and called Haikouichthys, these animals were about an inch long (2.5 cm) and had a head with seven to eight slits at its base that looked like gills. They also had a distinct spine surrounded by muscles.

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News Id		Source	Stamp	country
3901	New species of ugly, big-headed fish discovered in Idaho and Montana rivers	yahoo	2014-01-31	US
3902	scienceworldreport	New Species of Big-Headed Fish Discovered in Montana and Idaho Rivers	2014-01-31	US
3903	New York man pleads guilty to smuggling nearly 40,000 piranhas into the U.S.	CNN	2014-02-01	US
3904	Senegal frees Russian ship caught for 'illegal fishing'	BBC News	2014-01-23	SN
3905	Forced to fish: Slavery on Thailand's trawlers	BBC News	2014-01-23	TH
3906	Genetically-modified salmon approval faces lawsuit	CBC News	2014-01-22	CA
3907	Coloured Cells Chase Each Other To Make A Fish’s Stripes	nationalgeographic	2014-01-20	KP
3908	Florida weighs allowing limited harvest of goliath grouper	wtsp	2021-05-09	US
3909	Japanese firm designs portable fish tanks for seafood lovers to take their dinner home alive	dailymail	2021-05-09	JP
3910	Man fined for spearfishing blue groper	weeklytimesnow	2014-01-20	AU
3911	Something stinks in Lamma 'mystery' as hundreds of rotting dead fish wash up on beach	scmp	2014-01-15	HK
3912	Fish can eat flying birds, now, apparently	inquirer	2014-01-10	ZW
3913	Russia accuses Greenpeace of encouraging Senegal to seize trawler	theguardian	2014-01-09	UK
3914	Canadian seafood imports targeted by U.S. environmental group	CBC News	2014-01-07	CA
3915	6-year-old saves brother who nearly drowned in fish tank	KDKA / CBS NEWSPATH	2021-05-13	US
3916	Snorkeler Spots Man’s Lost Wedding Ring Wrapped Around Fish's Body in Australia	people	2021-05-12	AU
3917	Anglers get 'catch of a lifetime' near Anna Maria Island	wtsp	2021-05-14	US
3918	Scientist bleaches and dyes dead creatures to reveal their amazing inner anatomy	daily mail	2013-12-17	UK
3919	How the Cavefish Lost Its Eyes	gizmodo	2013-12-12	US
3920	Man catches 'prehistoric' fish on Caney Fork River	newschannel5	2021-05-10	US
3921	‘Bodacious’ Bahamas Fishing Trip Costs Florida Man His Boat Plus $25	cbslocal	2021-05-09	US
3922	This Parasite Eats a Fish's Tongue — And Takes Its Place	wired	2013-11-22	US
3923	'Cleaner fish' eat salmon parasites	BBC Scotland News	2013-11-19	UK
3924	Norwegian salmon farm offers bounty for escaped fish	aljazeera	2013-11-18	NO
3925	Bluefin tuna quota demand slammed by environmentalists	CBC News	2013-11-17	CA

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