More than 160 million years ago, even as dinosaurs were roaming Earth, a massive plankton-trawling fish known as Leedsichthys problematicus swam its oceans. Scientists, who have known of the fish’s existence since the late 19th century, could only guess at its size due to the poor quality of the fossil specimens that survived. But now, after the discovery of a nearly complete skeleton buried in a quarry near Peterborough, England, a Scottish and Canadian team of researchers has confirmed this week that the Leedsichthys was nearly twice the size scientists had previously believed, and could grow to a whopping 55 feet in length
The journey to this week’s revelations actually began with a chance discovery several years ago. Two geology students were working on a project at the quarry outside Whittlesea when they spotted fragments of bone sticking out of the rocks. When a team led by Professor Jeff Liston of the National Museums of Scotland unearthed the remains, it turned out to be a nearly complete skeleton of Leedsichthys problematicus, which lived during the Jurassic era, more than 160 million years ago.
Scientists Discover World’s Largest Fish
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