St Bathans fauna, Paleontological site in Central Otago District, New Zealand
St Bathans fauna site in Central Otago contains layers of fossilized remains of mammals, birds, crocodiles, turtles, and various reptiles from the Early Miocene period. The fossil deposits spread across multiple locations along the Manuherikia River near the former gold mining settlement of St Bathans.
Scientists discovered nontherian mammal fossils at this location in 2006, fundamentally changing previous understanding of New Zealand's fauna. This finding revealed that the islands had a far more diverse animal population than was previously thought.
This site reveals what creatures once lived across New Zealand before the landscape transformed over time. Visitors gain insight into how different the natural world here was millions of years ago.
The site is best explored by visiting the St Bathans area and seeking out the various fossil locations along the river valley. It helps to gather local information beforehand to find the most accessible points and understand which areas offer the clearest views of the fossil layers.
The fossils come from an ancient subtropical freshwater lake that existed roughly 19 to 16 million years ago. This unusual combination of warm climate and lakeside deposits shows how dramatically different New Zealand's environment once was.
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