Dr Sarah Gabbot Searching for Africa's Oldest Fish
Posted on 04/20/2005 10:23:54 AM PDT by balrog666
THE fossil of Africa’s oldest fish — dating back to an early Ice Age when fish had neither bones nor teeth, has been found in the Cederberg in the Western Cape.
The 450 million-year-old fossil was nicknamed Nelson by the scientists who first found parts of the ancient remains in 1994 when former President Nelson Mandela was voted into office.
The team from the universities of Leicester in Britain and Stellenbosch did not realise the magnitude of their find at the time.
Co-leader of the team, Professor Dick Aldridge of the Department of Geology at the University of Leicester, said they had been unable to scientifically describe the fish at the time.
The fossil is 80 million years younger than the world’s oldest fish fossil, which was found in southwest China in 1999.
Aldridge’s partner at the University of Stellenbosch, Dr Hannes Theron, said the discovery had filled a gap for the team.
The team has unearthed seven fossils of the fish — the oldest known of the Anaspids group at a site close to Clanwilliam and Great Krakadouw.
“It’s worse than the London buses — you wait for two hours and then suddenly three come along together. We waited for 11 years and, suddenly, we found seven.
“They’re so primitive that they’re difficult to understand. They existed in the Hirnantian Ice Age 450 million years ago. They are totally new to science and we have yet to describe them and to give them a scientific name, ” said Aldridge.
Ping please.
If it didn't have bones or teeth, what part of the fish got fossilized?
Ha Ha!!!!
Ouch! That hurt! No wonder nobody came to my birthday party.
A prehistoric, boneless, toothless fish called Nelson - after Nelson Mandela. I like it!
The 450 million-year-old fossil was nicknamed Nelson by the scientists who first found parts of the ancient remains in 1994 when former President Nelson Mandela was voted into office.
Admiral Nelson could not be reached for comment. It appears the Seaview is grounded, again.
we have yet to describe them and to give them a scientific name
That's what I was thinking. Maybe that's why they're having trouble describing them.
Okay, so I guess the soft tissue from the fish has left impressions in mud or clay, and the soil later turned to stone -- is that basically right?
As one fossil would say to another fossil, "Hi Nelson".
"Helloooooo old fish, are you in there??"
Looks like bones to me or s that cartilage?
You're on a diet. One fossil per day.
Probably cartilage, as with sharks and rays. Not a bone in their bodies....just cartilage.
These plates look of a writing style older then 1994 to me. Have they been Ratherized?
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