A student found his father’s lost notebooks: what he discovered helped solve a mystery over 50 million years old

Sometimes, the answers to science’s greatest mysteries are hidden in a forgotten notebook tucked away in the back of a drawer.

In 2023, a research team at the University of Otago in New Zealand was forced to put a study of an extraordinary marine fossil on hold because critical information was missing. Although they had the fossil itself, they did not know exactly how, where, or under what conditions it had been recovered.

Now, thanks to the unexpected appearance of several old notebooks, the research has finally been published in the New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics.

The original discoverer of the fossil, paleontologist Richard Köhler, has passed away years earlier, and his field journals were believed to be lost. The situation changed when Köhler’s son, who was enrolled as a student at the same university, found his father’s notebooks while sorting through his belongings. After learning about the ongoing project, he donated the journals to the university, providing the information needed to complete the study.

A 55-million-year-old specimen

Thanks to these notes, the team led by professor Daphne Lee was able to reconstruct the details of the original expedition.

The journals revealed that in 1999, Köhler was exploring the remote Pitt Island when he discovered an unusual specimen embedded in the face of a cliff. Rather than a flat impression preserved in stone, it was a three-dimensional fossilized fish dating back approximately 55 million years.

The level of preservation was remarkable, allowing researchers to distinguish individual scales and the precise shape of the fins.

Köhler removed the block of rock containing the fossil and transported it to the university’s Department of Geology. There another specialist carefully cleaned and prepared the specimen. However, after this initial work was completed, the fossil was placed in storage, and the investigation remained dormant for years.

The mystery of an intact predator

With the fossil’s origin finally clarified, researchers were able to classify the new species as Ikawaihere koehleri, named in honor of its discoverer.

The findings indicate that this is the first predatory bony fish from that period ever documented in New Zealand. It was a robust animal equipped with a large upward-facing mouth, a feature that suggests it captured prey and swallowed it whole.

Beyond the significance of the species itself, the circumstances surrounding its preservation continue to intrigue scientists.

It is extremely rare for the remains of a fish of this type to remain intact without being consumed by other marine animals. Because researchers observed only minimal signs of bacterial decomposition, they believe the fish was buried almost immediately after death. Another possibility is that ocean currents carried it into very cold waters before significant decay could begin.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.