Ancient crocodile-like amphibians, once believed to be confined to the Northern Hemisphere, have been discovered to have roamed the remote northern reaches of Western Australia approximately 250 million years ago. This revelation comes from groundbreaking new studies on fossilised remains initially unearthed in the Kimberley region during the 1960s. The research offers fresh insights into the life and migratory patterns of Aphaneramma, a formidable ancient predator.
Dr Lachlan Hart, a palaeontologist involved in the research, explained that these ancient fossils, which were once misplaced and incorrectly identified, have been pivotal in reshaping our understanding of this intriguing species.
“It’s clear that this creature was quite the traveller in its time, navigating ocean channels extensively,” Dr Hart stated. “The evidence now places it across a vast geographical divide, connecting the Kimberley in Western Australia with Svalbard in Norway.”
He further described Aphaneramma as a formidable aquatic hunter. “It possessed a head remarkably similar to a crocodile, a body resembling that of a giant salamander, and a mouth lined with rather sharp teeth,” he elaborated. “It would have been a highly active and successful predator in its watery domain.”
A Fortuitous Find in a US Museum
The fossils in question were first discovered on Noonkanbah Station, a property situated roughly 2,500 kilometres north of Perth, near the town of Fitzroy Crossing. The initial excavation took place in the 1960s. At that time, palaeontologists classified these fragments as belonging to temnospondyls, a diverse group of ancient amphibians. They were initially given the species name Erythrobatrachus.
However, over the subsequent five decades, these crucial fossil fragments became separated and dispersed across various museums and scientific institutions globally. This fragmentation meant that their true significance remained largely overlooked.
The turning point came through a stroke of sheer luck. The misplaced fossils were eventually rediscovered within the collection of a museum in the United States. This serendipitous find coincided precisely with the ongoing research being undertaken by Dr Hart and his team.
“It was one of those incredibly fortunate moments,” Dr Hart recounted. “Someone realised, ‘Hey, you’ve been searching for these, haven’t you?’ It’s a moment where you truly have to acknowledge your good fortune.”
Re-evaluation and New Understanding
With the advantage of hindsight and the application of modern scientific techniques and technologies, researchers were able to re-examine the fossils. This re-evaluation led to the crucial understanding that the initial identification was indeed incorrect.
While both sets of fossils belong to the broad order of temnospondyls, they represent two distinct species: Erythrobatrachus and Aphaneramma.
“The temnospondyls are an exceptionally significant group of animals in Earth’s history,” Dr Hart emphasised. “They hold the remarkable distinction of having survived two of the ‘big five’ mass extinction events that have profoundly shaped life on our planet. This includes the most catastrophic extinction event ever recorded, which tragically wiped out approximately 90 per cent of all life forms.”
The Pain of Lost Discoveries
Dr Hart expressed a deep sense of regret, describing it as something that “breaks his heart,” due to the strong possibility that numerous other significant fossils are currently housed in museum collections, unrecognised and unknown to the scientific community.
“In those earlier days, many institutions from around the world were actively involved in studying our fossil materials,” he explained. “Unfortunately, a considerable number of these valuable specimens were sent overseas and subsequently became lost to history, their scientific potential unrealised.”
In stark contrast to the past, Dr Hart highlighted that collection and documentation practices in the 21st century are far more stringent and meticulous. “We are now extremely diligent in documenting every single piece recovered from the field and meticulously tracking its final destination,” he concluded.
