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Middens and otoliths

Although the Panboola Bioblitz has been postponed for a month, it will give us time to work on one of the surveys we are planning. We were going to photograph some of the shell middens along the Pambula river, to identify what sorts of shells are in them. It has been suggested by Prof David Booth that we shoulalso look out for any fish bones, especially otoliths or ear bones of fish, as much can be told about the time and condition of the fish from these remains.

Smaller than a grain of sand ... close-up of a seadragon ear bone. Photo: Kerryn Parkinson from SMH

Here is an article from the Sydney Morning Herald on the otoliths of seadragons which you may find interesting.

  http://www.smh.com.au/environment/yes-fish-do-have-ears-20130513-2jgrk.html