The fossils of two fish species dating back 438 million years have been discovered in East China's Jiangxi Province, representing one of the oldest species of fish ever found. Photo: Screenshot of website

The fossils of two fish species dating back 438 million years have been discovered, representing one of the oldest species of fish ever found.
 
The fossils were discovered in East China's Jiangxi Province, according to an announcement on Wednesday from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The fossils now represent the oldest kind of eugaleaspiform (a jawless ancient fish) in the world.
 
"Eugaleaspiform fish species have only been found in China and northern Vietnam, and they have a strong local style," said the report.
  
The two fossil species are called Qingshuiaspis junqingi and Anjiaspis ericius, with the former named after Wang Junqing, one of the most influential paleontologists in China.
 
The result was published by Shan Xianren, under the guidance of tutors Gai Zhikun and Zhao Wenjin, in the Journal of Asian Earth Sciences.