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
3926	Arctic mystery fish identified	CBC News	2013-11-15	CA
3927	The four fish I would still eat – even after watching Seaspiracy	theguardian	2021-05-10	JP
3928	after 420 million years in the deeps, modern gillnets from shark fin trade drag coelacanths into the light	mongabay	2021-05-12	MG
3929	The Surprise Hiding in the DNA of Pet Fish	The Atlantic	2021-05-14	GE
3930	Man catches salmon weighing same as 7-year-old boy	itv	2013-11-13	UK
3931	Scientists Track Young Salmon's First Moves In The Ocean	underwatertimes	2013-11-11	US
3932	Cold-water fish food not adapting to a warming world, study says	nbcnews	2013-10-21	AU
3933	Thousands of dead fish found on Eastern Auckland coastline	nzherald	2021-04-28	NZ
3934	Angler catches bizarre mystery fish	theborneopost	2013-11-06	MY
3935	Fluorescent barramundi growing in Lake Kununurra	abc	2013-11-04	AU
3936	Stinky fish balls at Salton Sea. Really stinky	laobserved	2013-11-04	US
3937	Asian carp threatening ecosystem in the Great Lakes	upi	2013-10-29	US
3938	Fisherman hooks 134-pound Fish	News Ghana	2013-10-19	TH
3939	Huge oarfish found off Catalina amazes scientists	fox5sandiego	2013-10-14	US
3940	New research shows how the zebrafish could help humans reach Mars	qub	2021-05-20	UK
3941	UK ships prepare to leave Jersey after dispute over fishing rights	BBC News	2021-05-06	UK
3942	Mysterious situation in Coconut Grove as thousands of expensive fish suddenly die outside several homes	local10	2021-05-01	US
3943	Woman rescues fish from library pond	CTV Winnipeg	2013-10-12	CA
3944	New Species of Giant Fish Arapaima Discovered in Brazil	sci-news	2013-10-11	BZ
3945	Absurd Creature of the Week: The Half-Ton Giant Freshwater Stingray With a 15-Inch Poison Barb	wired	2013-09-27	US
3946	X-rays reveal Snake River sturgeon eating tackle	spokesman	2013-09-30	US
3947	Giant tower in the shape of a puffer fish creates online uproar in China	abc	2013-09-27	CN
3948	12-foot sturgeons possible in James River, scientist says	richmond	2013-09-28	US
3949	Snake versus fish: Moment serpent reared up from pond to sink its fangs into hapless perch	Daily Mail	2013-09-25	BG
3950	Record Breaking Salmon Harvest This Year in Alaska	kdlg	2013-09-23	US

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