| http://www.patagoniatimes.cl/index.php/20090825891/News/Health-Science/ANCIENT-STORK-FOSSILS-UNEARTHED-IN-CHILEAN-ANTARCTICA.html ANCIENT STORK FOSSILS UNEARTHED IN CHILEAN ANTARCTICA | | | |
| Written by EL MERCURIO | |
| Tuesday, 25 August 2009 | |
| Chilean researchers on Isla Rey Jorge (King George Island), off the coast of Antarctica, have discovered fossilized footprints of ancient duck and stork-like birds. The scientists, members of the Instituto Antártico Chileno (INACH), think the fossils date back some 50 million years, to a time when Antarctica and South America were joined. The now frozen Antarctica was at that time a land of lush green forests, researchers believe.The INACH scientists – Marcelo Leppe and Héctor Mansilla – made the discovery at approximately 70 meters above sea level. In total they uncovered some 50 fossilized prints. The fossils range in size from 1.8 centimeters to 6 centimeters. According to Leppe and Mansilla, the findings offers further proof than many of the endemic species now found in South America may actually have originated in Antarctica. |
