Indian Ocean Life(2016)
by: Jamie Williams & John Woodroof
Tiger Shark
The fossils where found on the coast of Indonesia in the Indian Ocean. The remains of a medium sized jaw with jagged teeth was found. Scientists predict that it is a tiger shark because of the long width of the jaw and the number of rows of teeth. The petrified remains were found on the coast in warm shallow water where tiger sharks prefer to feed therefore, we can accurately predict the fossil is from a tiger shark.
Great Hammerhead Shark
The fossils where found on the coast of the Indian Ocean. The remains of a small sized jaw with jagged teeth was found. Scientists predict that it is a hammerhead shark because of the small size of the jaw and the number of rows of teeth. The petrified remains were found on the coast in warm shallow water where Hammerhead sharks prefer to feed and the shape of the head which is only found on the Great Hammerhead not other hammerheads. Therefore, we can accurately guess the fossil is from a hammerhead.
Green Seaturtle
The petrified remains of a green turtle was found on the shore of a beach in a small village in India along the Indian Ocean. The width of the shell is 3.5ft. which suggests it is a Green Seaturtle because they are largest breed of sea turtles to live in the Indian Ocean. The fact that it was found on a beach suggests that it died while or shortly after laying its eggs. The fossils where of a shell and a skull. Based on the sizes and shapes of the bone scientist know that the remains belong to a Green Seaturtle.
Manta Ray
The Bay of Bengal is a northern extension of the Indian Ocean The Bay of Bengal which is a northern extension of the Indian Ocean. The fossil was the wings of a Manta Ray that was 23ft. long which is about average for a adult. The bay where it was found is a major feeding spot in the summer due to the large amount of shrimp that are there, which is a food source of the Manta Ray. All of these reasons are how scientist know that the fossil is from a Manta Ray.
Clown Fish
The petrified fossil of a Clown fish was recently found in the bottom of the Indian Ocean when mining for oil. The minuscule size of the fossil and the location, in a reef, suggests that it is a fish similar to a clown fish but we can not be sure. But, scientists know its a a Clown fish is the bone structure and the head shape. Scientists noticed the way the head slopes down and the thickness and knew it was a Clown fish.