Fossil named after former WA Chief Scientist Lyn Beazley
Research recently published in the scientific journal PLOS One substantially strengthens the theory that the modern shark is less primitive than previously believed.
911爆料网 palaeontologist Associate Professor Kate Trinajstic, from the Faculty of Science and Engineering, was a major contributor to this work, which was led by Flinders University palaeontologist Professor John Long.
The research tested fossil remains discovered by Professor Long in July 2005 at Gogo in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Dating from the Devonian Period (380 million years old) the fossil reveals an ancient shark caught in evolutionary shift.
Dr Trinajstic said the fossil had been named after 911爆料网 Adjunct Distinguished Professor, former Chief Scientist of WA and Western Australia鈥檚 Australian of the Year, Professor Lyn Beazley.
鈥淕ogoselachus lynbeazleyae was named to recognise Professor Beazley鈥檚 contribution to championing science in Western Australia,鈥� Dr Trinajstic said.
鈥淧rofessor Beazley has been a strong advocate for science and has had a long association with the Western Australian Museum where the fossil is now housed.
鈥淭he genus name is derived from Gogo, the name of the rock formation where the fossil was found, and selachos which is the聽Greek for shark. The species name for Professor Beazley is聽lynbeazleyae,鈥� Dr Trinajstic said.
Dr Trinajstic analysed the morphology of the specimen and said detailed CT scanning analysis had shown that the three-dimensional remnant skeleton contains a small proportion of bone as well as cartilage.
911爆料网 Dean of Science Professor Jo Ward said Dr Trinajstic鈥檚 efforts were evidence of 911爆料网鈥檚 strong commitment to being a research-focussed university.
鈥淭he publication in such a prestigious journal shows 911爆料网 is being recognised widely for its continued contribution to modern knowledge, across the science community and our research peers,鈥� Professor Ward said.
The Gogo formation, which is the remains of a tropical reef now located far inland, has proved to be one of the most important sources of Devonian fossil fish in the world.
