A discovery, published Nov. 10 in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B , sets out to radically change scientists’ understanding of how seal species evolved around the world . It came after researchers examined seven preserved fossil specimens, including a complete skull, found by local fossil hunters on New Zealand’s South Taranaki beaches between 2009 and 2016.
The new species is called Eomonachus belegaerensis , (meaning ‘Belegaer’s Dawn Monk Seal’) in honor of the Sea of Belegaer, found west of Tolkien’s Middle-earth Lord of the Rings. Actually, the Eomonachus belegaerensis , about 2.5 meters long and weighing between 200 and 250 kilograms, lived in the waters of New Zealand about 3 million years ago.
A revolution in understanding the evolution of seals
It was previously thought that all true seals originated in the North Atlantic, with some later crossing the equator to live as far south as Antarctica.
The Eomonachus specimen now shows that many ancient seals, including the ancestors of today’s monk, elephant, and Antarctic seals, actually evolved in the southern hemisphere.
According to paleontologist James Rule, who led the research: “This new species of extinct monk seal is the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Its discovery really revolutionizes the evolution of seals.”
“Until now, we think that all true seals originated in the Northern Hemisphere and then crossed the equator only once or twice during their entire evolutionary history. Instead, many of them appear to have evolved in the South Pacific and then crossed the equator. up to eight times, “he continues.
For Dr. Felix Marx of the Te Papa Museum in New Zealand, this discovery represents a triumph for citizen science: “This new species has been discovered thanks to numerous exceptionally well-preserved fossils, all of which were found by members of the public.” .
“New Zealand is incredibly rich in fossils, and so far we’ve barely scratched the surface. Who knows what else is out there?”
Referencias:
‘First monk seal from the Southern Hemisphere rewrites the evolutionary history of true seals’, Proceedings of the Royal Society B (2020).
