Australia's exceptional Palaeozoic fossil fishes, and a Gondwana origin for land vertebrates [ 2005-01-01 - 2008-12-31 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Dr Gavin Young (Chief Investigator) ,  John Long (Chief Investigator) ,  The Australian National University (Managed by)

Brief description Australia's exceptional Palaeozoic fossil fishes, and a Gondwana origin for land vertebrates. The 370 million-year-old Gogo deposit in WA has produced the World's best-preserved fossil fishes of Devonian age. New discoveries of related forms in eastern and central Australia document the deep history of Australia's unique vertebrate fauna, and provide new evidence on the evolution of the first jaws and limbs in vertebrates. They indicate that the first land animals may have evolved on the Australian landmass. These remarkably preserved, information-rich skulls and braincases of some of the oldest known vertebrate fossils provide unique data on early evolution of the head and brain; they are held in national collections as a significant contribution to both National and World Heritage.

Funding Amount $280,000

Funding Scheme Discovery Projects

View this grant in the ARC Data Portal