The fossil of anh vu fish of over 400 million years.

VietNamNet Bridge – For the first time Vietnam is compiling a national Atlas of Paleontology, which will be completed this year’s end.

This huge work gathers the research results of the past more than one century of Vietnamese and international scientists.

Aiming to comprehensively reflect the world of paleontology, the number of palaeobotanical and palaeobiological subjects introduced in the Atlas is vast and they are presented in specific classifications.

Four volumes are under compilation: the first volume on foraminifera, the second volume on molusca, the third volume on brachiopoda and the fourth volume on pollen spores.

To compile this great atlas, Vietnamese scientists have had to collect and research century-old documents of French and Russian geologists, who laid the first bricks of Vietnam’s geology.

Advanced printing technology allows scientists to reproduce real photos of palaeobiological specimens. Most of the creatures in this atlas don’t exist nowadays. Behind the picture of each creature is an interesting story about their existence, development and scientists’ adventures.

This atlas will also be computerised. A website for the Atlas on Vietnam’s Palaeontology is being built by the Geology and Mineral Institute and this website will provide information for sale.

(Source: TP)