Australian Ocean Data Network hosts a dataset of fossil scales from Early Devonian thelodonts, primarily Turinia australiensis, found in the Toko Syncline of western Queensland. The data likely includes taxonomic identifications and stratigraphic associations, linking the fossils to marginal marine environments and coeval freshwater placoderm deposits. The dataset covers discoveries across multiple basins, including Georgina, Canning, Carnarvon, and Cobar/Wilcannia areas.
Use Cases
- Taxonomic classification of thelodont species based on scale morphology described in the dataset
- Stratigraphic correlation of Devonian beds across Australian basins using the Turinia australiensis fossil record
- Analysis of paleoenvironmental conditions based on the association of thelodonts with ostracods and eridostracans
- Studying the adaptive radiation and temporal range of Turinia fauna in the Australian region
Strengths
- Dataset provides specific taxonomic references for fossil species, including Turinia australiensis Gross, 1971
- Includes stratigraphic context linking fossils to specific geological units like the Cravens Peak Beds and Mulga Downs Group
- Correlates fossil occurrences across multiple Australian basins (Georgina, Canning, Carnarvon)
Limitations
- Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
- Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment
- Data may reflect geographic/temporal bias inherent to data_gov_au
Provenance
- Source
- Australian Ocean Data Network
- Time Range
- Early Devonian (Emsian) to Middle Devonian (Givetian-Frasnian)
- Freshness
- Last updated 2026-04-16 14:38:10.726298; freshness should be verified
- Geography
- Australia, including Toko Syncline (Queensland), Georgina Basin, Canning Basin, Carnarvon Basin, Cobar/Wilcannia area (New South Wales)