Scientists map 540 million years of fossil records to find new species
The study suggests that younger geological periods like the Cenozoic Era may offer the best opportunities for new marine fossil discoveries.
Researchers have created a map to identify where fossils of ancient sea life may still be located, according to a report by the Times of India. By mapping 540 million years of fossil records, the study aims to pinpoint regions that could hold unknown prehistoric species.
Paleontologists Thomas A. Neubauer of the Bavarian State Collections of Natural History in Germany and Mathias Harzhauser of the Natural History Museum in Vienna conducted the study. They used the Paleobiology Database and the Macrostrat database to compare fossil discoveries with geological data from shallow marine environments.
The research, published in Science Advances, found that the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic Eras have been extensively studied. Consequently, the researchers suggest that additional finds from these older periods are less likely to substantially expand the existing fossil record soon.
The study highlights the Cenozoic Era, which began approximately 66 million years ago, as a promising frontier. Although many fossils have been recovered from this period, its shallow-water marine deposits remain comparatively underexplored.
The Middle Miocene, dating to about 15 million years ago, was identified as an area with considerable potential for new discoveries due to relatively few documented finds. Neubauer believes the map can help researchers plan future excavation campaigns by focusing on areas that have received little attention.