Incredible Discovery: New Species Of Extinct Armored Fish Discovered

A group of researchers from the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Delaware Valley University, Stanford University and the University of Chicago has identified the new species of extinct armored fish from the fossils near Canada which were uncovered nearly 15 years ago.

According to the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, this newly discovered armored fish species belong to the group of Antiarchi.They are generally classified on basis of their external, skeletal unbreakable plates covering their head, front fins and shoulder.

The fish is named as Bothriolepix Rex (B-Rex), which basically means king of all fishes. The fish measures about five and a half feet long and is considered to be the largest fish in the group of Antiarchi.The scientists were able to discover B-Rex with the help of the fossils present near the Okse Bay on Ellesmere Island in Nunavut region of Canada.

Scientists believe that B-Rex belongs to a species which existed during the Devonian period - the age of fishes. According to Jason Downs, a Ph.D research associate at the Academy and an Assistant Professor at the Delaware Valley University, "B-Rex extends the range of known body sizes for the Antiarchi group". He also added that the lengthy body and the thick armor of the fish develop questions regarding the lifestyle of this unusual group of armored fish.

B-Rex is not as wild and brutal as its counterpart Tyrannosaurus Rex. The downward facing mouth in a flat shape conveys the fact that B-Rex depends on plant fragments or animals present in the sand or mud.

B-Rex went extinct by the end of Devonian Period along with the Antiarchi group. Though researchers believe that the huge body size of the fish led to their extinction, yet they are not sure regarding the actual reason.