New Fossil Billfish Species Honors Late Paleontologist Ewan Fordyce

A new species of fossil billfish has been named Zealandorhynchus fordycei to honor the late Emeritus Professor Ewan Fordyce, a distinguished paleontologist who significantly influenced the field over his four-decade career at the University of Otago. Fordyce, who passed away in November 2023, is remembered for his profound impact on students and researchers alike.

The discovery was detailed in a recent paper published in the journal Gondwana Research. It describes two rare fossil billfish skulls dating back to the early Eocene, approximately 50 million years ago, found in Otago, New Zealand. These billfish, which include species like marlins and swordfish, are recognized for their elongated, spear-like upper jaws used for hunting.

Lead author Dr. Seabourne Rust emphasizes the significance of these fossils as they represent early and now-extinct forms of billfish. “The more complete skull belongs to a new genus and species that we have named Zealandorhynchus fordycei, after the late Professor Fordyce,” he stated. The second skull was unearthed by co-author Morne Wium near a site where another fossil fish skull was discovered nearly 40 years ago. Both specimens are now part of the Earth Science New Zealand National Paleontological Collection.

Due to their size, the fossils are believed to have belonged to adult billfish, estimated to measure several meters in length. “These billfish specimens are notable additions to a rather sparse Early Eocene fish macrofossil record from New Zealand,” Dr. Rust noted. “They hint at ancient diversity and a widespread southern distribution of early billfishes during the Eocene—this is significant as previous knowledge suggested their distribution was predominantly in the northern hemisphere.”

Dr. Rust’s academic journey began at the University of Otago, where he completed his Master of Science thesis on fossil fish collections under the mentorship of Professor Fordyce. Reflecting on Fordyce’s influence, he remarked, “Ewan gave so much to his students; his well-illustrated lectures and legendary field trips brought the subject to life. He was a guiding mentor for me and many other budding paleontologists. His legacy, particularly his work on fossil vertebrates from Southern Zealandia, remains impactful.”

Many of Fordyce’s important discoveries were made during fieldwork in North Otago and Canterbury, where he specialized in recovering ancient whales and dolphins. The long hours spent preparing these fossils provided critical insights into the marine life that thrived millions of years ago.

By naming the new fossil billfish taxon after Fordyce, Dr. Rust and his colleagues feel privileged to honor his memory and contributions to the field. For further details, refer to the paper: Seabourne Rust et al., “Fossil billfish (Xiphioidei) from the Eocene of Hampden, North Otago, New Zealand,” published in Gondwana Research.

This discovery not only commemorates a respected figure in paleontology but also enriches the understanding of the ecological history of New Zealand’s marine life.