Did you know fish were the first animals to evolve jaws? A new U-M study of ancient fossils reveals that 359–423 million years ago, a rare group of fish known as lobe-finned fish were the first to innovate in jaw shape and function, likely using them for feeding and defense. In this Michigan News research spotlight, lead researcher Emily Troyer explains what the findings reveal about vertebrate evolution and why studying ancient fossil records is key to understanding how life developed over time.
