Rare & fragile fossils are found in Australia
Recommended for Middle Grades
Rare and fragile fossils found in Australia.
A stock of rare and fragile fossils has been discovered in Australia’s dead heart region. These fossils are of trapdoor spiders, tiny fish and feathers of an ancient bird.
What are trapdoor spiders?
Trapdoor spiders are the ones which construct burrows with a cork-like trapdoor made of soil, vegetation and silk. They belong to Ctenizidae family.
Palaeontologists, the scientists who study fossils, have discovered a stock of fossils in the New South Wales region of Australia. The discovered fossils are of the time when the continent was carpeted with rainforests. This region is so dry that it is called the dead heart of Australia.
About the Fossils
The researchers who have found the fossil stock say that these plants and animals lived in this region between 16 and 11 million years ago. That’s a long time! Isn’t it!
Earlier, scientists discovered rare fossils in Australia, dated 23 million to 5.3 million years ago. They were found in Miocene rainforests. These fossils were the bones and teeth of large animals that lived during that time.
Current research on the fossils
The scientists had visited the site in 2017 when a farmer discovered fossilized leaves on one of his farms. At that time, the scientists found a wide range of fossils including spiders, insects and fish. The fossils found recently, are of small and delicate animals such as spiders and insects and also, flora from the Miocene rainforests.
The scientists have examined the fossils and declared that these fossils also reveal the animals’ last foods such as fish, larvae and a dragonfly wing inside the fish’s stomach.
Currently, scientists have started collecting fossils to create a portrait of the extinct Australian rainforest.
Won’t it be interesting to see what the ancient rainforest looked like? We at Curious Times wish the team all the luck for their research. Until then, Kids! Stay curious and safe.
Are you interested in learning about fossils? Fossils are parts of an animal or plant that lived thousands or millions of years ago which has turned into rock. The study of fossils is called palaeontology. Studying fossils helps us understand more about life in ancient times and its connection to our world today. Keep reading Curious Times to know what scientists are discovering about Earth’s past.
Over 500,000 children are benefitting from Curious Times today! We continue to seek your valuable feedback to serve you better. Feel free to write to us at hello@curioustimes.in.You can also follow us on WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Youtube, Twitter, LinkedIn.
0 (Please login to give a Curious Clap to your friend.)