An ancient chimera unknown to science discovered in Moscow
Moscow amateur paleontologist Kirill Shapovalov, having conducted research on the territory of the Russian capital, collected a small collection of the remains of ancient living creatures. It consisted of 8 dental plates ranging in size from 7 to 27 mm. Scientists at Kazan Federal University concluded that they belonged to a previously unknown species of prehistoric chimeras, according to the Paleontological Journal .
Chimeroid fish are a small group of cartilaginous fish. Their appearance combines features of several different types, for which they got their name.
Now chimeras live in the waters of the Arctic and Pacific oceans. In ancient times, they were much more numerous and inhabited the shallow seas that covered the continents.
Their remains can still be found in the sediments of various regions, including Moscow. Thus, layers of the Late Jurassic period (163-145 million years ago) were discovered on the banks of the Moskva River in the west of the capital. They were objects of geological excursions back in the late 19th – early 20th centuries, when there was no dense residential development.
But the remains of chimeras came across to seekers of antiquities extremely rarely. The only specimen was identified by the Russian paleontologist Bogolyubov in 1912; since then, no finds have occurred for more than a hundred years.
Experts noted that even in modern Moscow there are places for paleontological research. One of them is the Kuntsevo-Fili Park, where you can find layers 152-145 million years old. According to experts, excavations can be carried out “locally” in streams flowing into the Moskva River.
The newly discovered chimera was given the scientific name Moskovirhynchus robustus, which roughly translates as “Muscovite hard-toothed”. It belongs to the family of elephant chimeras (Callorhinchidae). The size of the fish was small – about 50 centimeters. Studies have shown that both archaic and evolutionarily developed modern features were combined in its appearance.
Earlier it was reported that the remains of a pterosaur were found near Ryazan. This find was the first of its kind.
