Preparing the Oldest Proto-mysticete Whale, Seymour Island, Antarctica Peninsula

该奖项将完成对头盖骨研究的准备工作， 以及世界上最古老的原始神秘鲸的部分骨架 1987/88年从始新世晚期的La Meseta地层中发现， 西摩岛，南极半岛。 头骨实际上 完整的，缺乏岩区的一部分，和几个 胸部骨骼的椎骨和肋骨也被保存下来。 因此，它是世界上已知最古老的原始神秘生物， 这表明--来自许多其他群体的证据--南极 沃茨在其形成之前就产生了许多进化上的新奇事物。 出现在低纬度地区。 标本被埋在一个致密的，高度硬化的砂岩中， 使得其制备繁琐且耗时。 关于一个- 在联合国的主持下， 新西兰奥塔加大学，由 Dr. R.尤恩福代斯。 一旦准备和研究完成， 完成后，标本将返回美国， 将被收藏在史密森尼博物馆 机构。 由于这一点，并在承认 史密森尼学会（Smithsonian Institution） 古生物学系将为该项目做出贡献。

This award will complete the preparation for study of a cranium and partial skeleton of the world's oldest proto-mysticete whale, recovered in 1987/88 from the late Eocene La Meseta Formation, Seymour Island, Antarctic Pennisula. The cranium is virtually complete, lacking part of the petrosal region, and several vertebrae and ribs of the thoracic skeleton also are preserved. As such, it is the oldest known proto-mysticete in the world, suggesting - with evidence from many other groups - that Antarctic waters produced many evolutionary novelities in advance of their appearance in lower latitudes. The specimen is entombed in a dense, highly indurated sandstone, making its preparation tedious and time consuming. About one- half of the work has been accomplished, under the auspices of the University of Otaga, Dundedin, New Zealand, being supervised by Dr. R. Ewan Fordyce. Once preparation and study have been completed, the specimen will return to the United States where it will be curated into the collections of the Smithsonian Institution. Because of this and in recognition of the significance of the specimen, the Smithsonian Institution Department of Paleobiology will contribute to the project.