Why is Riversleigh so important?
The significance of Riversleigh cannot be understated. It is one of one a handful of fossil sites around the world that has been listed as a world heritage site. It is also almost unique in Australia as a place where we can watch the evolution of our terrestrial fauna over a period of 10 million years.
What fossils are found in Riversleigh?
Among the most common fossil remains found at Riversleigh are the tiny bones and teeth of microchiropteran bats. Millions have been recovered and identified as belonging to more than 35 different kinds of bats.
Why are fossils so well preserved at Riversleigh?
Why are so many animal remains preserved so well at Riversleigh? The answer to that lies in the underlying rocks which are also limestone, but laid down in the bed of an ancient sea more than five hundred million years ago. As these rocks were exposed on what became land, rainwater began to dissolve them.
Why is Riversleigh a World Heritage Site?
The World Heritage area was inscribed for its outstanding natural universal values. It is one of the most significant fossil deposits in the world and the richest known fossil mammal deposit in Australia. It has revealed records of Gondwanan life forms which existed prior to the break up of this ancient continent.
How old is Riversleigh fossil?
25 million years
The Riversleigh fossil deposits are among the richest and most extensive in the world, with some fossils dating back 25 million years. These fossils have been superbly preserved in limestone outcrops. Riversleigh was once a lush rainforest filled with lakes and waterways.
Why is Naracoorte rich in fossils?
Recent research has revealed that the deposits contain much more than bones, with fossil plant material, pollen, fossilised algae and even DNA. This allows scientists to build a comprehensive picture of the environment during this time period.
How was the Riversleigh fossil site found?
Fossils at Riversleigh are found in limestone by lime-rich freshwater pools, and in caves, when the ecosystem was evolving from rich rainforest to semiarid grassland community. Some of the fossils at Riversleigh are 25 million years old.
How old are the fossils in Naracoorte?
How the underground archives formed. The Naracoorte Caves formed around one million years ago within the Gambier Limestone, itself dated to around 37 million to 12 million years old and formed during the late Eocene or Miocene epochs.
Why are caves good for fossils?
Caves, and to a certain extent deserts, preserve fossil remains very well due to the evenness of the climatic local environment. Fossils can be protected from extremes in weather (water, wind and temperature) and climate as well as the disturbance of dead animal remains from scavengers.
What is the most famous fossil?
Lucy, a 3.2 million year old Australopithecus afarensis named after the Beatles’ song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”, is perhaps the most famous fossil in the world.
What do fossils tell us?
Fossils are the remains or traces of ancient life that are usually buried in rocks. Examples include bones, teeth, shells, leaf impressions, nests, and footprints. This evidence reveals what our planet was like long ago. Fossils also show how animals changed over time and how they are related to one another.
How old are the fossils at Riversleigh Australia?
Riversleigh is a locality that contains hundreds of fossil sites that span an age from about 25 million years ago to about 15 million years ago. There are also some younger sites of around 4 million years of age and a few tens of thousands of years old. The older sites tell of a lost Australia very different from the dry continent of today.
Why is Riversleigh a World Heritage Site in Australia?
The significance of Riversleigh cannot be understated. It is one of one a handful of fossil sites around the world that has been listed as a world heritage site. It is also almost unique in Australia as a place where we can watch the evolution of our terrestrial fauna over a period of 10 million years.
What kind of fauna was found at Riversleigh?
This was the first deposit to be found and was given its name before it was realised there were actually hundreds of local faunas covering the area of the Riversleigh Fossil Site. The Low Lion Local Fauna(LF) and Dirk’s Towers Local Fauna are possibly older then the Riversleigh Local Fauna.
Which is the most important fossil site in Australia?
Riversleigh is Australia’s most important source of information about the evolutionary history of its vertebrate animals. Well over a hundred different fossil sites are now known from an area covering tens of square kilometres.