Australopithecus sediba – Ancient Hominid Fossil Named by South African Student

A name suggested by a seventeen-year old student at St Mary’s school in Waverley, Johannesburg (South Africa), has been chosen by a team of scientists as the official “nick-name” of a 1.95-million-year-old hominid fossil.  Many palaeontologists give names to the specimens that they are working on, whether it be a prehistoric animal, a dinosaur or even a fossil of an ancient hominid.

There is no precedence for doing this as far as we at Everything Dinosaur understand, however, having worked long hours on an individual specimen we can recognise the feeling of attachment that this brings.  Also, when referring to the specimen, it is all very well to use the official specimen nomenclature in literature, but nick-names are so much easier to comprehend when having a conversation.

For example, the Tyrannosaurus rex museum specimen TMP 81.6.1was nick-named “Black Beauty” due to the jet-black colour of the bones, a result of manganese deposited by the surrounding groundwater.

The recently discovered hominid skeleton, representing a new species of Australopithecine (Australopithecus sediba) was given the name “Karabo” in an announcement made yesterday (June 1st), during the seventh annual Standard Bank Past (Palaeontological Science Trust) key lecture by Professor Lee Berger.

Hominid Fossil

It was Professor Berger’s young son, Matthew who made the discovery of this important fossil, appropriate as Matthew was nine at the time and the fossil remains have been identified as being from a 9-13 year-old male.  The fossils were found at a site in Gauteng Province (South Africa), known as the “Cradle of Humankind”.  The site has twelve or so limestone caves that have preserved the remains of ancient animals, plants and perhaps, most importantly of all – ancient hominids.

The name “Karabo”, which means “answer” in a native South African dialect was submitted by 17-year old St Mary’s pupil, Omphemetse Keepile.  It beat more than 15,000 other entries, submitted by students and pupils from schools, colleges and universities from all over South Africa.

A second partial skeleton of Australopithecus sediba has been found, this time scientists believe the bones are from an adult female.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website for models and replicas of ancient hominids: Everything Dinosaur.

Ichthyosaur Fossils Found in School Vegetable Patch

Many schools have set aside a small area of their grounds to act as a vegetable garden so that the pupils can have a go at growing their own fruit and vegetables.  Such a plot of land can permit teachers and teaching assistants to carry out all sorts of lesson extensions and these activities could inspire and encourage the next generation of gardeners.  However, for one school in Queensland (Australia), the digging of some post holes in their vegetable patch revealed the bones of an ancient marine reptile, not the sort of thing that schools encounter everyday.

Ichthyosaurus

Year 10 student Raymond Hodgson and groundsman Ben Smith were digging corner posts for a vegetable garden at the Richmond State School, in western Queensland, when they made the find.  This part of Queensland is known as the “dinosaur trail” as a number of important dinosaur and marine reptile fossil discoveries have been found in this area in recent years.  During the middle part of the Cretaceous, this part of what was to become Australia was covered by a warm, tropical sea that teemed with life including giant marine reptiles such as ichthyosaurs (fish lizards) and pliosaurs such as the giant predator Kronosaurus.

At first the student and the groundsman thought the hard lumps in the dirt were rocks but luckily Ben recognised them as bits of fossilised bone.

Paul Stumkat, the curator of local fossil museum Kronosaurus Korner, named after the huge pliosaur whose fossils have been found in this part of Queensland, commented that the vegetable plot diggers had unearthed the fossilised vertebrae from an ichthyosaur, a marine reptile that looked like a cross between a dolphin and a shark.

A Scale Drawing of the Marine Reptile Ichthyosaurus

A typical “dolphin-like” Ichthyosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view more details of a model Ichthyosaurus and dinosaur toys: CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Prehistoric Life Models.

Mr Stumkat said both men were pretty excited about the discovery.  He added:

“You never think about finding something like that when you’re digging your vegie garden do you?”

Mr Stumkat said the giant reptiles once ruled the inland sea that covered Richmond and were present in such prolific numbers they could be compared to the bison which dotted the grass plains of North America.

“They were just everywhere.  They were an incredibly successful group of marine reptiles that existed from the end of the Jurassic through to the Early Cretaceous.”

The vertebrae of ichthyosaurs are the backbones and tail bones of this marine reptile.  Ichthyosaur vertebrae are typically circular and dished in the centre (on both sides).

Mr Stumkat said ichthyosaurs ate other sea creatures such as squid and fish.  He commented:

“We have amazing fossils up here that show teeth marks probably from ichthyosaurs as well.  We’ve got a lovely fish head here on display that has a big bite mark on the side of its head which seems to line up with something like the teeth of an ichthyosaur.”

Situated in what was the Cretaceous Inland Sea, the outback town is now the site of many significant fossil finds, including dinosaurs and giant marine reptiles.

The latest specimen is currently being prepared by Mr Stumkat and will eventually go on display at the school.  However, Mr Stumkat says the find has not stopped work on the school’s new vegetable garden, although the school children and staff have altered the way in which they work on the plot.

“They’re digging much more carefully now just in case they hit any more interesting rocks,” added Paul.

The Neanderthal Genome Shedding Light on Human Evolution

A ten year project led by an international team of anthropologists and geneticists is shedding light on the H. sapiens and H. neanderthalensis relationship as more information about the Neanderthal genome, the genetic make up of this extinct species of human is revealed.

Scientists involved in the project say the findings, published today in the journal “Science”, provide important information on the origin of our own species and the inter-relationships with the other hominid species with whom modern humans shared the world up to around 28,000 years ago – the Neanderthal.

Although earlier studies had cast doubt over whether modern humans interbred with Neanderthals, this study indicates that modern humans migrating out of Africa did interbreed with Neanderthals.  This interbreeding could be one of the reasons why the Neanderthal is no longer with us (unless we count this DNA evidence that is), the Neanderthal could simply have been absorbed into the modern human genome.

The lead researcher, Svante Paabo of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, in Leipzig, Germany commentated:

“Having a first version of the Neanderthal genome fulfils a long-standing dream.  For the first time we can now identify genetic features that set us apart from all other organisms, including our closest evolutionary relative.”

Neanderthal

The findings are based on bone samples of three female Neanderthals excavated from Croatia’s Vindija Cave, a site famous for its well preserved Neanderthal remains and artefacts.  The fossilised bones of the individuals have been estimated by scientists to be approximately 38,000 years old.  It is at around this time that Neanderthal remains and artefacts start to disappear from the fossil and archaeological record of Europe, with evidence of modern humans becoming far more common.

A Model of a Neanderthal Man

A CollectA Neanderthal man figure.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture shows a model of a Neanderthal man, to see this model range: CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular Range.

The scientists state that they have mapped sixty percent of the genome so far.  They will continue their efforts to complete the sequence, to map the entire genetic code of the Neanderthal species, a project that they anticipate will take years.

The researchers compared the Neanderthal genetic material, with the genomes of five present-day humans from different regions of the world: China, France, Papua New Guinea and southern and western Africa.

Human Migration

The findings suggest that modern humans, after migrating out of Africa 80,000 to 45,000 years ago, bred with Neanderthals then in the Middle East before spreading further into Asia.  In the scientific paper, the team conclude that between 1 to 4 percent of the modern human genetic make up of non-Africans can be traced back to a Neanderthal ancestor.

Over recent years, our understanding of Neanderthal stone tool technology and Neanderthal culture has changed and the slow witted, ape man image associated with Neanderthals in the past has been fully refuted.

To read an article about Anglo/American research into Neanderthal tool technology: Neanderthals not as Stupid as We Thought.

David Reich, a geneticist and associate professor at the Harvard Medical School Department of Genetics, commented on the paper stating:

“The main finding is that there was gene flow from Neanderthals into the ancestors of modern non-Africans.”

Neanderthals first appeared in the European fossil record about 400,000 years ago.  The species persisted until approximately 28,000 years ago when the last Neanderthal enclaves (in the Iberian peninsula) died out.

Extracting DNA from the ancient bone samples was a daunting feat.  Using a delicate dental drill, researchers collected tiny fragments of bone powder (500 milligrammes), roughly the size of a small asprin, from which to analyse and isolate Neanderthal DNA.

Svante Paabo stated:

“Six or seven years ago, I thought it would be impossible, at least my lifetime, to sequence the entire nuclear genome of Neanderthals.”

The bone samples contained very little preserved Neanderthal DNA.  According to researchers, 95 to 97 percent of the DNA extracted was bacterial or from other organisms that had colonised the bone.  The DNA fragments that were recovered were extremely small and contained chemical modifications that could have yielded false data.

Researchers also had to take special measures to extract the Neanderthal DNA without contaminating it with their own human DNA.  Employing new computer technologies and software the team were able to map out the majority of the 4 billion-nucleotide Neanderthal genome.

Scientists are hoping that over the next few years more of the Neanderthal genome will be plotted.

To view the extensive range of prehistoric animal themed gifts and toys available from the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Visit Everything Dinosaur.

Senior Police Officers Believed in “Nessie” in the 1930s

Loch Ness, the largest expanse of freshwater in the British Isles is a very beautiful and tranquil place, however, this part of the Scottish Highlands is perhaps best known as the lair of a strange beast – “Nessie”.  Many sightings, pictures and even sonar and video images have been taken of the “wee beastie” that is supposed to lurk in the peaty waters of the Loch, indeed, many other Lochs in Scotland have their own stories of strange creatures in the water.

This phenomenon is not just restricted to Scotland, many locations in the Northern Hemisphere have their own stories and myths of strange lake monsters.  There is “Champ” in Lake Champlain and a myriad of similar strange animals reported from Lakes as far apart as Norway, Sweden, the United States, Ireland and Turkey.

However, perhaps the most famous (or should that be infamous) lake monster of them all is Nessie and papers from senior figures in authority dating from the 1930s, put on display for the first time; reveal that for many people at the time the Loch Ness Monster was very real.

With the upgrading of the A82 that skirts around the northern shore of the twenty-five mile long loch, there were more vehicles and travellers passing by the deep, dark waters and there were a spate of monster sightings, even one from a couple who claimed that Nessie left her watery home and hauled herself passed their car, perhaps the creature was going ashore to sample the night life of Fort William.

In a time, when movies like King Kong were causing a sensation and monsters (even dinosaurs) were big news, even bigger than they are today, it was one particular photograph, taken in 1934 that really set the world’s attention on the Loch Ness area and sent every would-be monster hunter to this part of the Highlands in a bid to “bag the beastie”.

In April 1934, a sensational photograph purportedly taken by a respectable London surgeon was published in many newspapers around the world.  It seemed to show the head and neck of a strange creature breaking the surface of the waters of the Loch.

A Replica of the Schleich Plesiosaurus Model

The Schleich Plesiosaurus model on display.  Is this a replica of the Loch Ness Monster?

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the range of Schleich prehistoric animals: Schleich Prehistoric Animal Figures and Replicas.

Colonel Robert Wilson’s photograph seemed to confirm the sightings and reports, that there was a strange animal unknown to science lurking in the waters of Loch Ness.  It was not until 1994 that the photograph was revealed to be a hoax, the picture shows a model of the “monster” taken just a few feet from the shore and not the head and neck of a large plesiosaur (extinct marine reptile).

However, this photograph and the spate of sightings and reports seemed to convince a number of senior figures in authority as to the creature’s existence.  In papers and letters put on display at the National Archives of Scotland in Edinburgh, the then Chief Constable of Police in Inverness-shire, William Fraser, was even making plans to try to protect the monster from big game hunters.

Sightings of the Monster

As the new Chief Constable for the region, Mr Fraser wrote in August 1938 to the Under Secretary of State in the Scottish Office, urging the Government to do all it could to “protect the monster”.  Mr Fraser expressed his concern over the steady stream of trophy hunters and sportsmen who visited the Loch with the intention of capturing Nessie, the letter, one of a series of documents put on display, part of the “Secret Nessie Files”, reveals that Mr Fraser believed that the monster was real.

This letter along with other documents on display demonstrates the extent to which the belief in Nessie was established amongst senior authority figures and their determination to protect it.

Mr Fraser, who led the force until 1951, described a London couple, Peter Kent and Marion Stirling, who were “determined to catch the monster dead or alive”.  They planned to have a “special harpoon gun” made and intended to return with “twenty experienced men” the following week “for the purpose of hunting the monster down”.

It could be argued that Mr Fraser was thinking in terms of public safety when he wrote those comments but he goes onto add:

“That there is some strange fish creature in Loch Ness seems now beyond doubt, but that the police have any power to protect it is very doubtful.  I have, however, caused Mr Peter Kent to be warned of the desirability of having the creature left alone, but whether my warning will have the desired effect or not remains to be seen.”

It appears that the Chief Constable had a case of “monster fever”, perhaps he was an early cryptozoologist (a person who believes in the existence of strange and bizarre creatures, as yet unknown to science).

From time to time, remarkable discoveries of animals not known in the western world are made.  For example, recently a new species of giant monitor lizard was discovered in the Philippines.

To read more about this recent discovery: If You go Down to the Woods Today – Discover a new species of Monitor Lizard.

A spokesperson for the archives stated that other authority figures were less convinced:

“It’s certainly remarkable that a senior police officer was prepared to accept the existence of a “strange fish” or rather “creature” in the Loch”.

The files put on public display for the first time, also reveal that other officials were more sceptical and certainly less inclined to express strong views in favour of the existence of a monster.

For Adrian Shine, a naturalist who founded the Loch Ness and Morar Project (Loch Morar is deeper than Loch Ness and has its own monster legend), believes that Mr Fraser was not alone in believing in Nessie.

He said:

“When the first stories began to burgeon from Loch Ness in the summer of 1933, people in fairly high and respectable positions were quite properly and respectably interested to see what was happening and wanted to investigate and protect whatever was there if necessary.”

Spotting Nessie

Mr Shine commented that it was possible that Nessie was a species of migratory sturgeon.  Another theory behind the more than 1,000 sightings is that the unique environment of Loch Ness creates optical illusions, or perhaps there really is a marine reptile, a plesiosaur swimming around the Loch.  Unlikely, but you never know, however, we at Everything Dinosaur don’t believe in the possibility of a Mesozoic relic such as a plesiosaur being alive today, certainly not a population of them living in Loch Ness, a feature that was only formed a few thousand years ago.

A Model of a Plesiosaur (Elasmosaurus) – Could this be Nessie?

Bullyland Elasmosaurus from Everything Dinosaur

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view marine reptile models and other prehistoric animal figues in the popular Bullyland prehistoric animal model range: Bullyland Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animal Models.

Strange things do turn up from time to time.  Not long after Mr Fraser wrote his letter in the Summer of 1938, the first live Coelacanth was discovered off the African coast.  Coelacanths belong to an ancient group of fish that were once thought to be the ancestors of land animals.  They are found in the fossil record in strata from the Devonian Period through to the Cretaceous.  Scientists believed them to be extinct, until by chance, one came to the notice of western science shortly before Christmas1938.

To read more about Coelacanth catches: Coelacanth caught off the island of Zanzibar.

The Loch Ness Monster

Periodically, there are more pictures published of the Loch Ness Monster and people still travel to the area in the hope of catching a glimpse of the beast.  Quite a large tourist industry has sprung up in the area, fuelled by the myth of the monster.

As Adrian Shine says:

“People still come and they still see.  We have to accept that we don’t have all the answers.”