20 million years ago - Australia's splendid isolation
The early Miocene (23.3-16.3 million years ago)
By the beginning of the Miocene, the great southern land of Gondwana had broken up. Australia had separated from Antarctica and South America and was slowly drifting northwards with the islands of New Guinea at its leading edge.
Australian fact file
Animal superstars
Visit a fossil site
- Take a visit to Riversleigh, an early Miocene fossil site, and find out why the fossils recovered here are important to the unfolding story of Australia's past.
- A list of publications by Prof Michael Archer, Director, Australian Museum and others.
