Prehistoric fish sheds light on brain evolution

Studies of a prehistoric fish discovered off the coast of Scotland have shed new light on how early vertebrate brains evolved, scientists have said.

The faceless amphioxus was one of 15 rare species found in waters off Tankerness, Orkney, in 2011. The amphioxus was thought to be brainless but a study led by St Andrews University found it had brain development similar to vertebrates such as chicks and fish.