A recent study sheds light on the feeding habits of the ancient fish *Tharsis*, commonly discovered in the Solnhofen Archipelago. Researchers have analyzed fossil specimens of *Tharsis* with belemnites, an extinct group of cephalopods similar to squid, lodged in their mouths or gill areas. The fossils, located in the Eichstätt and Solnhofen Basins, indicate that *Tharsis* occasionally died while trying to consume these belemnites.
This finding challenges the previous understanding that *Tharsis* primarily consumed tiny zooplankton. The presence of belemnites suggests a more opportunistic feeding strategy, where these fish targeted larger prey when available. Belemnites were not abundant in these basins and likely drifted in from the open Tethys Ocean after death.
The discovery of belemnites in the mouths of *Tharsis* fossils implies that the fish attempted to ingest these floating carcasses, leading to their demise and subsequent fossilization. This provides valuable insights into the ecological interactions within the Solnhofen Archipelago and the dietary adaptations of ancient fish species.