Perspective

Exciting Fossil Discoveries Shed Light on the Origin and Evolution of Fishes and Reptiles

Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

^* To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: wangmin@ivpp.ac.cn

Abstract

Over the last decade, numerous important vertebrate fossils have been discovered by scientists from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), which have significantly enriched understanding about the origin and early evolution of fish, amphibians, and reptiles. Particularly, researches about the origin of jawed vertebrates and origin of birds have systematically revised previous thoughts. These studies also demonstrate the globally leading role played by IVPP research teams in this field.