Jurassic Piranha Fossils Shed Light On Prehistoric Flesh-Eating Fish

A new study from an international team of researchers has detailed a Jurassic piranha-like fish that had long, pointy teeth capable of chomping through flesh. The ancient species is the earliest found example of a fish that ate flesh, ones that were found to attack other fish in the same areas as modern piranhas.

Fossilized remains of these ancient flesh-eating fish were discovered in southern Germany, helping researchers study the ancestors of modern-day piranhas. The fossilized fish were noted for their long, sharp, and serrated teeth. The species has been dubbed the Piranhamesodon pinnatomus and it dates back about 152 million years.

Unlike sharks, the Piranhamesodon pinnatomus is a bony fish, making it the oldest discovered with an appetite with flesh. The ancient fish weren't terribly large at about 3.5-inches in length; they would have existed in a tropical sea among coral and sponges.

In addition to the long pointed teeth on the creature's upper jaw, the lower jar featured triangular teeth with serrated edges. In addition to fossilized examples of this Jurassic fish, researchers also discovered fossils of marine creatures that may have been wounded by the piranha-like species.

These victims feature injuries on their fins; the attack sites are similar to the same location modern day piranhas attack other bony fish, underscoring the similarity between the two.