Prehistoric fish had sexual reproduction figured out 380 million years ago, a new fossil study has confirmed.

the fossil showed a 2-inch-long embryo within the fish’s body cavity, indicating internal fertilization

Researchers originally thought the tiny bones within the fossil were the remains of the fish’s final meal, but they decided to reexamine

All of these facts proved they were embryos, not prey items

did not have any broken or stomach-etched features

same bone structure

examined the pelvis of the male placoderm, they realized the pelvis had a fin not seen on the female fish

used to grip its mate during fertilization, much as sharks do

These fish have an extra large bone that attaches to the pelvic bone,” [Long] said. “It had been overlooked and hadn’t been identified

this seems to be “the beginning of erectile male fertilisation”