Australia Post Unveils "Creatures of the Palaeozoic" Stamp Series

Australia Post has launched a new stamp series, "Creatures of the Palaeozoic," illustrating prehistoric fossils from the Emu Bay Shale site on South Australia's Kangaroo Island. The stamps feature detailed illustrations by Dr. Peter Trusler, based on scientific research into these 512-million-year-old marine organisms from the Cambrian Period.

Journey to the Emu Bay Shale: A Unique Fossil Hotspot

The fossils featured in the collection originate from the Emu Bay Shale deposit, located on Kangaroo Island. This site is identified as the sole location in the Southern Hemisphere where delicate, non-mineralized external skeletons and some internal soft tissues of ancient creatures have been preserved.

The Emu Bay Shale deposit contains ancestors of modern snails, sea-urchins, crabs, and prawns, offering a rare glimpse into ancient marine ecosystems.

Research into the Emu Bay Shale site has spanned nearly two decades, focusing on its invaluable fossil record from the Cambrian Period.

The Cambrian Explosion: Birthplace of Complex Life

The Cambrian Period, part of the broader Palaeozoic Era, was a phase in Earth's history characterized by the initial evolution of complex life in the oceans. This era is recognized for a period of rapid biological diversification known as the Cambrian "explosion," during which many major animal groups first appeared.

The Cambrian "explosion" was a pivotal time, laying the groundwork for much of the life we see on Earth today.

Meet the Prehistoric Stars of the Stamps

The stamp series highlights several ancient marine animals discovered at the Emu Bay Shale site:

Nesonektris aldridgei: Described as an 18-centimeter-long swimmer with a primitive backbone.
Emu Bay Shale monster: A 4-centimeter, worm-like creature characterized by distinctive dorsal spines and posterior legs.
Anomalocaris daleyae: This formidable arthropod measured approximately 50 to 60 centimeters in length. It possessed large stalked eyes, each containing over 24,000 lenses, and frontal appendages used for grasping prey, alongside swimming flaps. This animal is described as an apex predator during its time.
Redlichia rex: The largest trilobite discovered from this period, measuring about 25 centimeters, with spiny legs specifically adapted for processing food.

Bringing Ancient Life to Color: Research and Artistic Interpretation

Dr. Peter Trusler's illustrations for the stamp series are based on scientific research co-led by Professor John Paterson, a palaeontologist from the University of New England, alongside colleagues from the South Australian Museum and Adelaide University, including Dr. Diego Garcia-Bellido.

While the illustrations are designed to be scientifically accurate according to current palaeontological knowledge, the colors used are an artistic interpretation, as original coloration is not preserved in the fossil record.

Exhibition

The original illustrations created for the stamp collection are scheduled for public display at the South Australian Museum.