Quest for fish fossils in Antarctica

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32450, 10 November 1970, Page 20

Quest for fish fossils in Antarctica

Fish fossils of 350 m years ago will be sought in, the Antarctic in the next three months by the curator of fossils at the Australian Museum (Dr A. ■ Ritchie). In Christchurch last evening Dr Ritchie said he was looking for fossils of freshwater fish similar to those found in Australia. Such fossils might provide evidence that the Trans-Antarctic Mountains were joined to the Great Dividing Range of Australia before the two continents drifted apart. Dr Ritchie believes his chances of success are reasonably good in that Dr P. J. Barrett, the leader of the Victoria University party to which he is attached, discovered the first fragment of an amphibian jawbone in the Trans-Antarctic Mountains in 1967. Dr Barrett’s discovery played an important part in the subsequent find last season by a group of scientists from Ohio State University of part of a reptilian skull in the Queen Alexandra Range. This was described as not only the most important fossil found in Antarctica but one of the truly great fossil finds of all time. Dr Ritchie, a Scotsman,

will be helped in his work by a colleague from Canberra, Mr G. Young. Both men are involved in research into fossil fish. He said no-one was working in this particular field in New Zealand. He was very interested in Devonian fossil fish which lived 350 to 400 million years ago. “I will be looking for a primitive armoured fish known as Bothriolepis which is found all over the world and should be in Antarctica,” he said. Since he took up his appointment in the Australian Museum three years ago Dr Ritchie has done a considerable amount of research into fish fossils in Australia. The Victoria University party will spend its time in the Boomerang and Warren Ranges, about 120 miles from Scott Base. Asked why he joined a New Zealand party rather than the Australian Antarctic research programme, Dr Ritchie said the Australians did not go to the areas where these fossil fish were to be fdund. “I am very pleased to be included with the New Zealand research expedition,” he said. The party will leave the city by air for the Antarctic this morning.