More Than Just Bones
Tim Holland is a paleontologist at the Australian Museum who helps preserve and study Australia’s ancient past. His job involves caring for fossils, recording important scientific information, and digitising specimens so researchers and the public can access them easily. Instead of old handwritten records, digital databases now allow scientists to find details about fossils in seconds, making research, education, and museum displays much more efficient.
Eric the Pliosaur
One of the most famous fossils found in the museums’ collection is Eric the Pliosaur a marine reptile discovered around 1987. Eric is amazing because the entire skeleton is preserved in opal, making it scientifically valuable and extremely rare. With opal being highly valuable, there was a risk the fossil could be sold and turned into jewellery. However, a nationwide fundraising campaign supported by everyday Australian companies raised enough money to keep Eric in the museum, where it can be studied and appreciated by the public.
Photo: Australian Museum
Mandageria Fairfax
Another important discovery comes from Canowindra, where slabs of rock preserve thousands of fossil fish from around 370 million years ago. Scientists believe these fish died when a freshwater lake dried up during a drought. One species, Mandageria fairfaxi, is especially significant because it is closely related to early tetrapods — the first vertebrates to move onto land. Fossils like these help scientists understand evolution and how humans share ancestry with early aquatic animals.
Photo: Australian Museum
Biodiversity and Resilience
Holland is fascinated by biodiversity and how animals adapt to extreme environments. For example, the King penguin survives freezing Antarctic conditions through thick insulation, waterproof feathers, and huddling behaviour to conserve heat. These adaptations show how species evolve to survive in challenging environments and highlight the resilience of life on Earth. He also believes new technologies such as CT scanning and DNA analysis will continue to transform museum science by allowing researchers to study fossils in more detail without damaging them.
Hollands work emphasises how fossils are much more than ancient bones. They’re more than their stories of evolution, climate change and survival. By preserving these remains and sharing their meaning it helps people better understand Australia's natural history and why protecting biodiversity is important for the future.
Photo: Australian Museum
Credits
Watch out for the latest articles from the Comms team. This article was based on an interview recorded by Magnus and Peanut (pictured), and features photos from the Australian Museum website and M. McLennan.
Step Inside... the Australian Museum
More Than Just Bones
Tim Holland is a paleontologist at the Australian Museum who helps preserve and study Australia’s ancient past. His job involves…
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