In Western India scientists have made an astonishing discovery as more than 700 ancient insects, arachnids, and crustaceans, and many plant, floral and fungal remains have been found in an amber excavation. These species are said to be from 50 to 53 million years old. At that time it is believed this area in Western India was a tropical rain forest. This would explain the type of specimens found. Researchers from the US, Germany and India found that there were similarities between these specimens and those found in Mexico and Central America.
Dr. Grimaldi, an entomologist at the American Museum of Natural History said that 100 Million years ago India, Madagascar, the Seychelles and Sri Lanka broke off from Gondwana, a landmass that also encompassed the land that became Africa, Antarctica, Australia, and South Africa. After India separated from present day Africa it drifted and in about 50 million years it collided with Asia creating the Himalayas. This show how the shifting of the landmasses affected the climate and species which lived there.
There were also remains of mammals found. Among them, Primates, Bats, and primitive rabbits remains were found. Plant remains were also discovered. There needs to be further study of these to establish their precise types.
I found this article to be very intriguing. It is very interesting to discover the different species which once lived on this earth that we share with so many creatures. Finding living things from the past can give us a perspective on evolution and how species adapted to the changing climates on their time. It amazes me that after all the years of discovering different species on earth there is still so many to be revealed.
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