Evolution of Fish

The Evolution of Fish display in the Museum.

Fish and fish-like vertebrates arose in the early Palaeozoic and comprise more than half of the diversity of vertebrates that inhabit the world today.

The Devonian Period (410 to 360 million years ago) has been termed the Age of Fishes because of the great proliferation of fish species throughout the oceans of the world.

The first detailed record of vertebrates comes with the evidence of jawless fish. These bottom dwellers, some of which had skeletons made of cartilage rather than bone, first appeared some 500 million years ago. Many were covered in plate-like armour.

Jawless fishes declined as jawed fish appeared. The latter, efficient swimmers and toothsome feeders, came to dominate the oceans of the Devonian. They evolved into many forms, including 9 meter long Dunkleosteus, the largest predator of its time.

The largest predator of the Devonian seas, Dunkleosteus is known only from scattered remains in Alberta. On the right is a portion of a wall covering mural in the Museum of Dunkleosteus pursuing a meal in a shallow Devonian sea.

This document was prepared by Wayne Hortensius, Calgary, Alberta, Canada for the Royal Tyrrell Museum Cooperating Society. All information © 1995 Royal Tyrrell Museum. All Rights Reserved.
Updated: April 8, 1995

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