June 21

These photos are recreations from the visitor's center of the Riversleigh Fossil Beds.


Photo: Carnivorous Kangaroo with a broken leg, being attacked by unseen predator.


Photo:Palorchestus was a large extinct marsupial unlike any that exist today.


Photo: This large flightless bird went extinct about 26,000 years ago.


Photo: Matsaile Snake-A constrictor found in Australia that rivaled the size of the South American Anaconda:


Chances are slim that we will be online for the next couple of days while we transition to Western Australia. If we can get off a short note we will.
As I said the Riversleigh Fossil Beds and a World Heritage Area. They are set aside because of their biological and historical importance. It is impossible to overstate their contribution to the fossil record. 200 mammal species that had never before been known to man were discovered at Riversleigh. Half of what we know about the evolution of Australian mammals come from bones found at a single site at Riversleigh. With a few gaps, Riversleigh provides a pretty complete picture of 20 million years of mammal evolution. It documents the changes in habitat from humid lowland rainforest to dry eucalypt forest and woodlands. Evidence unearthed at Riversleigh indicates that all of Australian mammals have rainforest origins.
The completeness of the fossil record is one of the things that makes Riversleigh so remarkable. Another is the quality of the fossils. The fresh water lime rich waters have preserved even soft tissue, like brains. Scientists have been able to piece together their findings and provide more complete information about the mammals thaT lived there than is often possible. Some of the mammals found there include the giant flesh eating kangaroo and a wombat the size of a rhinoceros.
And now a small moment from Mrs. Morris.
There is no one, least of all myself, that can say this has not been a once in a lifetime experience! When I think back on the things we have already done it seems those adventures were weeks ago instead of just days. Part of that feeling come from the dramatic changes in the landscape we have experienced and there is more to come!
Although the adventures are grand, the longing to be back to the things that are familiar is growing. I am thankful Mrs. Harding has her computer because those e mails from family and friends definitely keep me connected to those familiar things. It seems forever that we have seen any of you but oh the stories we will have to share when we return! Until then keep reading our blog and viewing the scads of pics still to come! Cheers!