There are well-preserved fossils of early whales in New Zealand which help document their evolution from land-based mammals. The Waitaki valley in north Otago is especially rich in such fossils. This fossil of a baleen whale, found in the nearby Awamoko valley, is about 26 million years old. The view is from the back of the skull looking forward. The skull, the two cylindrical lower jaws, and some of the skeleton are also displayed. The specimen is held in the Geology Museum at the University of Otago.
Dr R. Ewan Fordyce, who collected the specimen and is a leading specialist in whale fossils, explains why they are found so far inland.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Reference: 2927
Image: Geology Museum, University of Otago, by R. Ewan Fordyce
This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.