Two prehistoric fish were recently discovered in a waterway in Liuzhou, Guangxi province, according to South China Morning Post. The ancient species in question? The alligator gar.
The fish were found on Monday in an artificial waterway in a city park and both are approximately a meter in length, according to a report by South China Today.
“I caught one, but there was also another bigger one in the water,” said one park staffer, according to SCMP.
Last year, staff in the park discovered another alligator gar, which was 60 centimeters long. In reference to the first al-gar encounter, a park worker stated: “At the time we thought another had slipped through the net, but we had no idea there were still two left.”
Park authorities believe the fish ended up in the waterway after being released by a Liuzhou resident who had previously kept the fish species as pets.
Alligator gar are native to the southern United States and northern Mexico, although this is not the first time the species has turned up in Asia.
The fish has previously been found as an invasive species in Hong Kong, Singapore and parts of India (presumably released by aquarium hobbyists). A 1-meter-long alligator gar was also discovered in a Shenzhen river back in May.
An alligator gar caught in Shenzhen's Buji River
Alligator gar have roamed the fresh and brackish waters of our planet since the time of the dinosaurs, with fossil evidence suggesting the animal has been around since the Early Cretaceous, over a 100 million years ago.
The torpedo-shaped fish species, which can grow to over 3 meters in length, allegedly derives its name from its alligator-like snout, which is lined with long, terror-inducing teeth.
Authorities in Liuzhou are reminding the public not to release non-native species into the environment unless they wish to receive a RMB10,000 fine.
[Images via South China Today h/t SCMP]
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