A prehistoric land of birds and frogs

Isolated islands can evolve remarkably unique flora and fauna, given enough time. None is more unique than New Zealand, the home of the Kiwi, but also the past home of multiple species of birds and frogs. Indeed, such was the nature of the islands in the not too distant past, that birds and frogs filled many of the ecological niches commonly filled by other forms of critter, including mammals.

 

Dr Nic Rawlence, Senior Lecturer in Ancient DNA, University of Otago, New Zealand, stopped in to Adelaide on a recent family holiday, which gave Adelaide-based Palaeo Jam host Michael Mills the opportunity for the two to catch up, and chat about what it might have been like to walk amongst the wildlife of New Zealand when it was very much a land of birds and frogs..

 

Nic has written multiple articles in The Conversation including this one, that argues the people of New Zealand should celebrate its remarkable prehistoric past with national fossil emblems. 

 

https://theconversation.com/new-zealand-should-celebrate-its-remarkable-prehistoric-past-with-national-fossil-emblems-have-your-say-184942

 

You can find Nic on Twitter at @nic_rawlence_nz https://twitter.com/nic_rawlence_nz

 

You can find Michael at @heapsgood https://twitter.com/Heapsgood

 

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