Story: Fossils

The last 65 million years is referred to as the Cenozoic. Clockwise from top left: a scallop from Kauarapoa valley, Whanganui (3 million years ago [Ma]); a crab with its claw clearly visible; a Spinomelon spinosa shell from the head of Lake Waitaki (26 Ma); a mollusc, Murex octogonus, from Castlecliff, near Whanganui; a scaphopod, Dentalium otamaringaense, from Waiau stream (8 Ma); and a fossil leaf from Wharariki Beach Road, Golden Bay.

These fossils are part of the GNS Science National Paleontological Collection.