Fossilised jawbone found

Press, 7 August 1989, Page 32

Fossilised jawbone found

By

MICHAEL RENTOUL

The fossilised remains of a bird with teeth — possibly the only one of its kind — have been found by a Christchurch man. The jawbone of the pseudodontornis was found by Mr Al Mannering while he was fossicking at the lower Waipara Gorge. It is only the second such find in New l Zealand and, dating back 15 million years, also the oldest The teeth, or bony serrations to be precise, were used for fishing. “It is scientifically important and exciting,” said the curator of geology at Canterbury Museum, Ms Margaret Bradshaw. The fossil would go on display at the

museum in a few weeks and return to display after research. The pseudodontornis was a large bird with a wing span of perhaps three metres and was related to the pelican family. Mr Mannering, who has made previous . discoveries at the Waipara Gorge, said it was an important find in a 25year career, which he pursues in his spare time. The previous pseudodontornis jawbone find was at Motunau Beach in North Canterbury. * Ms Bradshaw said bird fossils were rare. The latest find could provide information on the evolution of birds, as well as distribution and migration patterns.