An astonishing Devonian predator unearthed in South Africa
A team of scientists identified a remarkable new species of large predatory fish dating back about 360 million years. The remains were recovered during a dig at Waterloo Farm in the Cacadu District of the Eastern Cape. The animal is believed to have reached nearly three meters in length, classifying it as a giant member of the Tristichoptrid group, which thrived during the Middle and Late Devonian period.
In appearance, the specimen resembles Hyneria lindae, another tristicopterid fish distributed across ancient saline environments during the Famennian stage—the final phase of the Late Devonian. Their wide global distribution underscores the interconnected nature of the Famennian world, though precise locations across the Earth remain a topic of ongoing research.
Skull reconstruction
This newly described tristicopterid species was found along a roadside embankment near Makhanda, formerly known as Grahamstown, and the fossil is now housed at the Albany Museum. The specimen includes skin bones, skeletal elements, and fin parts, providing enough material to reconstruct the full skull morphology.
The material allows a full-body reconstruction of one of the few large tristicopterids, with bone measurements indicating a length around 2.7 meters, marking it as a giant within its group.
The preserved geological context enabled the survival of fine details, including some scales, while teeth did not fare as well as the bones over time.
The new species has been named Hyneria udlezinye, with the name drawn from the IsiXhosa language. Udlezinye translates to “eating others,” a nod to the predator’s dominant lifestyle. IsiXhosa remains a widely spoken indigenous language in southeast South Africa, where the fossil was discovered.
Researchers describe the discovery as a boost to understanding the diversity of large late-tristicopterids and as evidence of the largest non-cartilaginous predator in the Waterloo Farm ecosystem during the Late Devonian period.
Reference work: Plos One. The published study provides details on the fossil, its morphology, and the implications for Devonian ecosystems.
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