24-Million-Year-Old Fossil in Assam’s Coal Beds

In June 2025, scientists uncovered the world’s oldest fossil of the Nothopegia plant genus in the 24-million-year-old coal beds of Assam’s Makum Coalfield, offering new insights into South Asia’s ecological past.

Key Points

Oldest Nothopegia Record: Fossilized leaves from the late Oligocene epoch (24–23 million years ago) are the earliest known evidence of the Nothopegia genus, now found only in the Western Ghats.
Ecological Shift: The plant once thrived in Assam's warm, humid climate—similar to today’s Western Ghats—before vanishing due to tectonic shifts and Himalayan uplift.
Research Methods: Scientists used herbarium comparison, cluster analysis, and CLAMP (Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program) to reconstruct the ancient environment.
Climate Insights: The study shows how geological and climate changes reshaped biodiversity, forcing species migration and extinction in certain regions.
Modern Relevance: As climate change accelerates due to human activity, the study emphasizes the urgency of protecting biodiversity hotspots like the Western Ghats, which harbour ancient, climate-resilient species.