Academic literature on the topic 'Fossil vertebrates'
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Journal articles on the topic "Fossil vertebrates"
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Rossi, Valentina, Maria E. McNamara, Sam M. Webb, Shosuke Ito, and Kazumasa Wakamatsu. "Tissue-specific geometry and chemistry of modern and fossilized melanosomes reveal internal anatomy of extinct vertebrates." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 116, no. 36 (2019): 17880–89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1820285116.
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Recent discoveries of nonintegumentary melanosomes in extant and fossil amphibians offer potential insights into the physiological functions of melanin not directly related to color production, but the phylogenetic distribution and evolutionary history of these internal melanosomes has not been characterized systematically. Here, we present a holistic method to discriminate among melanized tissues by analyzing the anatomical distribution, morphology, and chemistry of melanosomes in various tissues in a phylogenetically broad sample of extant and fossil vertebrates. Our results show that internal melanosomes in all extant vertebrates analyzed have tissue-specific geometries and elemental signatures. Similar distinct populations of preserved melanosomes in phylogenetically diverse vertebrate fossils often map onto specific anatomical features. This approach also reveals the presence of various melanosome-rich internal tissues in fossils, providing a mechanism for the interpretation of the internal anatomy of ancient vertebrates. Collectively, these data indicate that vertebrate melanins share fundamental physiological roles in homeostasis via the scavenging and sequestering of metals and suggest that intimate links between melanin and metal metabolism in vertebrates have deep evolutionary origins.
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Koch, Paul L., and Ralph F. Stearley. "Fossil Vertebrates." Rocks & Minerals 62, no. 3 (1987): 169–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00357529.1987.11762649.
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Gabbott, Sarah E., Philip C. J. Donoghue, Robert S. Sansom, Jakob Vinther, Andrei Dolocan, and Mark A. Purnell. "Pigmented anatomy in Carboniferous cyclostomes and the evolution of the vertebrate eye." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 283, no. 1836 (2016): 20161151. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2016.1151.
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The success of vertebrates is linked to the evolution of a camera-style eye and sophisticated visual system. In the absence of useful data from fossils, scenarios for evolutionary assembly of the vertebrate eye have been based necessarily on evidence from development, molecular genetics and comparative anatomy in living vertebrates. Unfortunately, steps in the transition from a light-sensitive ‘eye spot’ in invertebrate chordates to an image-forming camera-style eye in jawed vertebrates are constrained only by hagfish and lampreys (cyclostomes), which are interpreted to reflect either an intermediate or degenerate condition. Here, we report—based on evidence of size, shape, preservation mode and localized occurrence—the presence of melanosomes (pigment-bearing organelles) in fossil cyclostome eyes. Time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry analyses reveal secondary ions with a relative intensity characteristic of melanin as revealed through principal components analyses. Our data support the hypotheses that extant hagfish eyes are degenerate, not rudimentary, that cyclostomes are monophyletic, and that the ancestral vertebrate had a functional visual system. We also demonstrate integument pigmentation in fossil lampreys, opening up the exciting possibility of investigating colour patterning in Palaeozoic vertebrates. The examples we report add to the record of melanosome preservation in Carboniferous fossils and attest to surprising durability of melanosomes and biomolecular melanin.
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CROUCHER, RON. "Mounting fossil vertebrates." Geology Today 2, no. 2 (1986): 47–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2451.1986.tb01017.x.
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IULIIS, GERARDO DE. "Bolivian fossil vertebrates." Lethaia 28, no. 2 (1995): 166. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1502-3931.1995.tb01607.x.
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Milner, Andrew. "Cretaceous fossil vertebrates." Cretaceous Research 20, no. 5 (1999): 659–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/cres.1999.0174.
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Randle, Emma, and Robert S. Sansom. "Bite marks and predation of fossil jawless fish during the rise of jawed vertebrates." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 286, no. 1917 (2019): 20191596. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2019.1596.
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Although modern vertebrate diversity is dominated by jawed vertebrates, early vertebrate assemblages were predominantly composed of jawless fishes. Hypotheses for this faunal shift and the Devonian decline of jawless vertebrates include predation and competitive replacement. The nature and prevalence of ecological interactions between jawed and jawless vertebrates are highly relevant to both hypotheses, but direct evidence is limited. Here, we use the occurrence and distribution of bite mark type traces in fossil jawless armoured heterostracans to infer predation interactions. A total of 41 predated specimens are recorded; their prevalence increases through time, reaching a maximum towards the end of the Devonian. The bite mark type traces significantly co-occur with jawed vertebrates, and their distribution through time is correlated with jawed vertebrate diversity patterns, particularly placoderms and sarcopterygians. Environmental and ecological turnover in the Devonian, especially relating to the nekton revolution, have been inferred as causes of the faunal shift from jawless to jawed vertebrates. Here, we provide direct evidence of escalating predation from jawed vertebrates as a potential contributing factor to the demise and extinction of ostracoderms.
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Barreto, Claudia. "The Dinosaur Growth Plate: A Study in Paleohistology." Paleontological Society Special Publications 7 (1994): 255–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s2475262200009564.
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Paleontologists study past life through analysis of the fossil record. Vertebrate paleontologists are particularly interested in studying those animals with vertebral columns (backbones). The biology of vertebrates is dictated by the millions of cells that make up these complex animals. Histology is the science concerned with the microscopic anatomy of cells, tissues and organs. All life forms are made of cells (membrane-bound bodies within which the chemical reactions necessary to sustain life occur). In complex animals, such as vertebrates, similar cells work together in associations called tissues. Typically, only the harder tissues of the vertebrate body become preserved as fossils. An example of a hard tissue is bone. Our ability to derive information from a fossil is dependent on how well it is preserved and on the techniques we use to study the specimen. Certain fossilization regimes conserve cellular and sub-cellular structure and microscopic examination of appropriately prepared specimens permits detailed study of fossil bone histology (Barreto and Albrecht 1993). The microscopic structure of bone reflects the activity of the cells that produced it. All organisms on earth, and all the cells that compose them are descended from a common ancestral cell; and we have no reason to believe that cells that produced bone millions of years ago were different from bone cells we can study in living animals today. It is possible to compare the cellular structure of well preserved fossil bone to modern bone. Such research, called “paleohistology,” allows interpretation of the biology of extinct vertebrates (Reid 1984; Ricqles 1976; Ricqles 1980).
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Donovan, Stephen K., Daryl P. Domning, Frank A. Garcia, and Harold L. Dixon. "A bone bed in the Eocene of Jamaica." Journal of Paleontology 64, no. 4 (1990): 660–62. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022336000042700.
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Pre-pleistocene fossil vertebrates are rare fossils in the Antillean region. The majority of vertebrate deposits found in the West Indies are of Late Pleistocene age, usually, but not always (MacPhee et al., 1989), dating from after the last interglacial. These faunas are cave and fissure accumulations of disarticulated bones of small terrestrial vertebrates, particularly rodents, birds, and lizards. In contrast, pre-Quaternary vertebrates of the Caribbean islands are particularly poorly known. For example, Jamaica, which has one of the most extensively studied fossil records in the region, has hitherto produced only three Tertiary vertebrates, all aquatic and hitherto known only from unique specimens. These include: the late Early Eocene sirenian Prorastomus sirenoides Owen, 1855, originally described on the basis of the skull, mandible, and atlas vertebra (for a recent discussion of this species, see Savage, 1977); the lower jaw of the early Middle Eocene crocodilian Charactosuchus kugleri Berg, 1969; and a fragment of needlefish jaw from the Pliocene (Caldwell, 1966). It is therefore significant to report the discovery of an early Middle Eocene sequence in which bones are not uncommon, including a bone bed that has produced a moderate diversity of aquatic (marine?) taxa.
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Hunter, John P. "Evolution at All Scales in the Vertebrate Fossil Record." Paleontological Society Special Publications 11 (2002): 165–78. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s2475262200009898.
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The fossil record of vertebrates provides abundant evidence for both the fact and the theory of evolution (Carroll, 1997; Prothero and Schoch, 1994). In support of the fact that evolution has indeed occurred, the vertebrate fossil record clearly documents evolutionary change along lineages, that is, along direct lines of ancestors and descendents. The fossil record also shows step-wise evolutionary changes resulting in the emergence of new kinds of vertebrates from pre-existing kinds—for example, the origin of mammals from the “mammal-like” reptiles. In support of the theory that natural selection, in particular, has been largely responsible for evolutionary change, the fossil record shows that the numerous “transitional” forms that lived in the past—far from being nonviable “monsters”—were functionally integrated organisms that were well adapted to their ecological roles. Finally, the vertebrate fossil record preserves certain large-scale phenomena, such as radiations and trends, which show that evolutionary forces can act over very large time scales.
Dissertations / Theses on the topic "Fossil vertebrates"
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Molnar, Julia Louise. "The biomechanics of vertebrae over evolutionary transitions between water and land: examples from early Tetrapoda and Crocodylomorpha." Thesis, Royal Veterinary College (University of London), 2014. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.618323.
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With the transition from water to land in early tetrapods, and with transitions to secondarily aquatic habits in numerous tetrapod lineages, the functions of the vertebral column were transformed. Morphological changes in the vertebral column are a major mechanism by which vertebrates accommodate changes in locomotor forces. Although morphometric measurements from vertebrae have been correlated with axial mechanics and locomotor behaviour in numerous extant taxa, few studies have sought to test or apply these principles in non-mammalian tetrapods. In my thesis, I reconstructed the vertebral mechanics of fossil taxa that represent intermediate stages in water/land transitions of their lineages. Study taxa were the basal tetrapod Pederpes finneyae, which is one of the earliest known tetrapods to show indications of terrestrial adaptation, and three extinct crocodylomorphs, Terrestrisuchus, Protosuchus, and Pelagosaurus, which span the spectrum from fully terrestrial to primarily aquatic. I used a combination of morphometric measurements and 3D virtual models of bone morphology to estimate intervertebral joint stiffness and range of motion. For comparison, I also reconstructed the vertebral mechanics of four related extant taxa. Correlations between vertebral morphometrics and axial stiffness were statistically tested in (cadaveric) modem crocodylians, and I validated my methodology by comparing my results with data from extant taxa. My results reveal similarities and differences between the two lineages. Intervertebral joint compliance and range of motion tended to decrease with adaptation for terrestrial locomotion, as expected, but this trend seems to have reversed in later forms. Additionally, vertebral mechanics may have been largely controlled by different structural mechanisms in different lineages. The relationship between biomechanics of vertebrae and environment appears to be more complex than previously supposed. However, approaches that combine experimental measurements from extant animals, thorough analysis of fossil morphology, and explicit phylogenetic considerations have the potential to greatly improve locomotor reconstructions of extinct taxa.
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Giles, Sam. "How to build a bony vertebrate in evolutionary time." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2015. https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:1df4ba59-c709-4e3c-99c0-b49d1132743f.
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Jawed vertebrates (gnathostomes) account for over 99% of living vertebrate diversity, with origins that stretch back nearly half a billion years, and comprise two groups: Osteichthyes (fishes and land-dwelling vertebrates) and Chondrichthyes (sharks, rays and chimaeras). Osteichthyans are the dominant clade, with at least 60,000 species approximately evenly divided between two clades: the Actinopterygii and the Sarcopterygii. However, our understanding of early osteichthyan evolution is skewed in favour of sarcopterygians, leaving the origin of nearly half of all vertebrate diversity critically understudied. Furthermore, recent upheavals in the early gnathostome tree have destabilised relationships amongst fossil taxa and eroded our understanding of primitive anatomical conditions of key groups. Central to understanding early gnathostome evolution is the braincase, an anatomically complex structure that provides a wealth of morphological characters. However, braincases rarely fossilise, and their position inside the skull makes them difficult to attain. X-ray tomography allows a comprehensive description of the internal and external anatomy of fossils, including the braincase. This thesis sets out to target phylogenetically pivotal taxa and incorporate new anatomical data in building up a picture of character evolution in early jawed vertebrates. In particular, I target the gnathostome stem, describing a new taxon that helps bridge the morphological gap between placoderms and crown gnathostomes, allowing a more comprehensive understanding of both dermal and endoskeletal evolution. I also focus on early actinopterygians, describing the endoskeleton of the first members of the group in order to understand primitive anatomical conditions. I then investigate actinopterygian braincase anatomy in the context of a revised phylogenetic analysis, illuminating the early evolution of the actinopterygians. Finally, I present a synthetic review of braincase anatomy across the early gnathostome tree. These results provide a more accurate picture of braincase evolution across gnathostomes and actinopterygians, clarifying our understanding of their evolution while revealing new information about when key innovations arose in the brains of the very first ray-finned fishes.
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Benites, João Paulo de Almeida [UNESP]. "Estudo comparativo de restos fósseis e recentes de Amphisbaenia: abordagens filogenéticas, paleoecológicas, paleobiogeográficas." Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/11449/132538.
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000855485.pdf: 7534024 bytes, checksum: 3199f68c4c86807d828a2b5a85013760 (MD5)<br>Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)<br>Amphisbaenia é um importante grupo de amniotas reptilianos, providos de corpo cilíndrico e alongado, usualmente desprovidos de membros, com a exceção da Família Bipedidae, que apresentam os anteriores desenvolvidos. Esta anatomia facilita a vida fossorial. São alocados aos Squamata, por possuírem hemipênis, dente para romper e sair do ovo, cloaca transversal e tegumento coberto de escamas. Por assemelharem-se a lacertílios e ofídios, seu posicionamento filogenético tem sido amplamente discutido e sua ancestralidade é ainda controversa. São limitados às regiões subtropicais e tropicais, constituindo importante informação para abordagens paleoecológicas e paleobiogeográficas. Confeccionam profundos túneis compactando o solo, o que implica em grandes modificações morfológicas, tais como crânio robusto, formado por placas ósseas rígidas, e ligações interdigitais na região frontal, podendo ser sobrepostas, o que lhes confere maior resistência contra impactos na escavação. Sua anatomia é bastante convergente com aquela dos fósseis de lacertiformes mesozóicos, demonstrando um provável ancestral em comum com estes diápsidos. Um espécimen de Cryptolacerta, oriundo da Alemanha, compartilha características com Amphisbaenia. Entretanto sua filogenia ainda é incerta. De todo modo, junto com Sineoamphisbaena, pode indicar características convergentes entre lagartos laurasianos, possivelmente com aqueles que originaram Amphisbaenia. Os fósseis de anfisbênios são geograficamente restritos, predominantemente encontrados nos Estados Unidos, em quantidade relativamente escassa. A maior parte está relacionada à Família Rhineuridae, que poderia ser considerada primitiva. No entanto Bipedidae, um grupo recente, também é considerado como primitivo, devido à presença de cintura escapular e membros anteriores. Entretanto não há registros fósseis seguros, pois até então não foram encontrados restos fossilizados..<br>Amphisbaenia is an important group of reptilian amniotes, provided with cylindrical and elongated body, usually limbless, with the exception of the Family Bipedidae, which presents limbs. This anatomy facilitates fossorial life. They are allocated to Squamata, by having hemipenis, tooth to break the egg, cross cloacal vent and integument covered with scales. Resembling lacertilians and snakes, their phylogenetic position has been widely discussed and their ancestry is still controversial. They are limited to subtropical and tropical regions, providing important paleoecological and paleobiogeographical informations to the group. They cave deep tunnels, compacting soil, which implies major morphological changes, such as robust skull bones, with rigid plates, and strong osteological connections in the frontal region, with superimposed bones, giving them greater resistance to impacts during excavation. Their anatomy is quite convergent with Mesozoic lacertiform fossils, showing a probable common ancestor with these diapsids. A specimen of VIII Cryptolacerta, from Germany, shares features with Amphisbaenia. However its phylogeny is still uncertain. But Sineoamphisbaena may indicate convergent features between Laurasian lizards, possibly with those originated Amphisbaenia. The fossil records are geographically restricted, predominantly from USA, in relatively small quantity. Most are related to the Family Rhineuridae, which could be considered primitive. However the Family Bipedidae, a recent group, is classified also as primitive, due to the presence of shoulder girdle and forelimbs. But Bipedidae does not present fossils, because until now there are not fossilized remains assigned to them. Morphological convergence occurs in Rhineuridae, detailed in phylogenetic analyses, placing it as a apomorphic group. Anyway it is clear that the origin of Amphisbaenia remains obscure. There are not well preserved fossil materials before beginning of Eocene
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Benites, João Paulo de Almeida. "Estudo comparativo de restos fósseis e recentes de Amphisbaenia : abordagens filogenéticas, paleoecológicas, paleobiogeográficas /." Rio Claro, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/11449/132538.
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Orientador: Reinaldo José Bertini<br>Banca: Maria Eliana Carvalho Navega Gonçalves<br>Banca: Silvia Regina Gobbo Rodrigues<br>Resumo: Amphisbaenia é um importante grupo de amniotas reptilianos, providos de corpo cilíndrico e alongado, usualmente desprovidos de membros, com a exceção da Família Bipedidae, que apresentam os anteriores desenvolvidos. Esta anatomia facilita a vida fossorial. São alocados aos Squamata, por possuírem hemipênis, dente para romper e sair do ovo, cloaca transversal e tegumento coberto de escamas. Por assemelharem-se a lacertílios e ofídios, seu posicionamento filogenético tem sido amplamente discutido e sua ancestralidade é ainda controversa. São limitados às regiões subtropicais e tropicais, constituindo importante informação para abordagens paleoecológicas e paleobiogeográficas. Confeccionam profundos túneis compactando o solo, o que implica em grandes modificações morfológicas, tais como crânio robusto, formado por placas ósseas rígidas, e ligações interdigitais na região frontal, podendo ser sobrepostas, o que lhes confere maior resistência contra impactos na escavação. Sua anatomia é bastante convergente com aquela dos fósseis de lacertiformes mesozóicos, demonstrando um provável ancestral em comum com estes diápsidos. Um espécimen de Cryptolacerta, oriundo da Alemanha, compartilha características com Amphisbaenia. Entretanto sua filogenia ainda é incerta. De todo modo, junto com Sineoamphisbaena, pode indicar características convergentes entre "lagartos" laurasianos, possivelmente com aqueles que originaram Amphisbaenia. Os fósseis de anfisbênios são geograficamente restritos, predominantemente encontrados nos Estados Unidos, em quantidade relativamente escassa. A maior parte está relacionada à Família Rhineuridae, que poderia ser considerada primitiva. No entanto Bipedidae, um grupo recente, também é considerado como primitivo, devido à presença de cintura escapular e membros anteriores. Entretanto não há registros fósseis seguros, pois até então não foram encontrados restos fossilizados..<br>Abstract: Amphisbaenia is an important group of reptilian amniotes, provided with cylindrical and elongated body, usually limbless, with the exception of the Family Bipedidae, which presents limbs. This anatomy facilitates fossorial life. They are allocated to Squamata, by having hemipenis, tooth to break the egg, cross cloacal vent and integument covered with scales. Resembling lacertilians and snakes, their phylogenetic position has been widely discussed and their ancestry is still controversial. They are limited to subtropical and tropical regions, providing important paleoecological and paleobiogeographical informations to the group. They cave deep tunnels, compacting soil, which implies major morphological changes, such as robust skull bones, with rigid plates, and strong osteological connections in the frontal region, with superimposed bones, giving them greater resistance to impacts during excavation. Their anatomy is quite convergent with Mesozoic lacertiform fossils, showing a probable common ancestor with these diapsids. A specimen of VIII Cryptolacerta, from Germany, shares features with Amphisbaenia. However its phylogeny is still uncertain. But Sineoamphisbaena may indicate convergent features between Laurasian "lizards", possibly with those originated Amphisbaenia. The fossil records are geographically restricted, predominantly from USA, in relatively small quantity. Most are related to the Family Rhineuridae, which could be considered primitive. However the Family Bipedidae, a recent group, is classified also as primitive, due to the presence of shoulder girdle and forelimbs. But Bipedidae does not present fossils, because until now there are not fossilized remains assigned to them. Morphological convergence occurs in Rhineuridae, detailed in phylogenetic analyses, placing it as a apomorphic group. Anyway it is clear that the origin of Amphisbaenia remains obscure. There are not well preserved fossil materials before beginning of Eocene<br>Mestre
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Pawley, Kat. "The postcranial skeleton of temnospondyls (Tetrapoda: temnospondyli) /." Access full text, 2006. http://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/thesis/public/adt-LTU20061124.124055/index.html.
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Thesis (Ph.D.) -- La Trobe University, 2006.<br>"A thesis submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Dept. of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University". Research. Includes bibliographical references (p. 445-481). Also available via the World Wide Web.
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Fortier-Dubois, Étienne. "Late Devonian vertebrates from Siberia: a synchrotron microtomography study of bone bed material." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för biologisk grundutbildning, 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-281633.
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This is an investigation of new vertebrate fossil material from the Late Devonian locality of Ivanovka, Uryup River, Siberia. This bone bed material, circa 375 million years in age, represents a unique opportunity to fill a gap in our understanding of Late Devonian diversity, biogeography, and vertebrate evolution: Siberia, at the time, was an independent continent, and yet its fauna remains virtually unknown in comparison with the other paleocontinents, Euramerica and Gondwana. Using synchrotron microtomographic scanning, a non-destructive technique that has never, to our knowledge, been applied to bone bed material, we obtained 3D image stacks that were then modelled to yield triangle meshes representing the bones in three dimensions. These meshes could then be identified, described, and interpreted. Many of the discovered bones belong to the poorly known genus Megistolepis Obruchev 1955, potentially allowing a radical increase in knowledge regarding this taxon. Other material includes lungfish and possible fragments of limbed tetrapods, though the evidence of the latter is scarce. A discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of synchrotron microtomography for the study of bone bed material concludes the paper.
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Downing, Kevin Francis. "Biostratigraphy, taphonomy, and paleoecology of vertebrates from the Sucker Creek Formation (Miocene) of southeastern Oregon." Diss., The University of Arizona, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/185976.
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The Sucker Creek Formation exposures at Devils Gate in southeastern Oregon have yielded a significant small mammal fauna of at least thirty small mammal taxa from five stratigraphic horizons. The mammal-bearing portion of the Devils Gate section is more than 200 m thick. Fossil mammals occur in lacustrine and marginal lacustrine deposits lower in the section and occur in overbank and paleosol deposits higher in the section. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar single-crystal laser-fusion dates on three Devils Gate ashes shows that the age of the mammal-bearing sequence at Devils Gate spans the late early Barstovian land-mammal age with possible overlap into the late Barstovian, as currently defined. Duration of the entire mammal-bearing portion of the Devils Gate section was less than a million years. Both a new ash date from the type section and biostratigraphic correlations between Devils Gate and the type section support considerable temporal overlap between the two exposures. The Devils Gate Local Fauna includes several new taxa: a phyllostomatid bat; two "flying squirrels", Petauristodon sp. A and Petauristodon sp. B; and an eomyid rodent, Leptodontomys sp. A. Several fossil occurrences represent the first record of a taxon in the northern Great Basin and/or in the Barstovian land-mammal age, including: Blackia sp., Schaubeaumys grangeri, Protospermophilus quatalensis, and Pseudadjidaumo stirtoni. The Stagestop locality produced two new taxa, Copemys sp. aff C. esmeraldensis and Mystipterus sp. The Stagestop local fauna is Clarendonian in age. Concretions are an important source of fossil mammals in exposures of the Sucker Creek Formation. Geochemical analyses show that concretions formed through a complex interaction between bone and surrounding volcaniclastic material. Although some superficial bone was consumed during concretion diagenesis, concretion development reduced the chance of prolonged chemical and physical destruction of bone during later soil development. The broad ecological diversity of small mammals recovered from Devils Gate supports an interpretation of the local paleoecology as a mosaic of grassland, forest, and pond/lake-bank environments. Sequential small mammal faunas across a prominent ash event show a generally stable composition with no pronounced ecomorphic differences in pre- and post-volcanic disturbance intervals. Therefore, small mammals do not show analogous ecological patterns to disturbance-driven plant successions in the Sucker Creek Formation. I infer that the local ecosystem recovered from volcanic blasts at a temporal scale below the resolution of time-averaged, post-disturbance paleosols.
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Torres, Roig Enric. "Vertebrats post-messinians de Mallorca i Eivissa (Illes Balears, Mediterrània occidental): descripció, origen i extinció d’espècies." Doctoral thesis, Universitat de Barcelona, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/672477.
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La Tesi Doctoral inclou l’estudi de vertebrats fòssils post-messinians de les Illes Balears fins ara desconeguts. La investigació s’ha centrat principalment en el registre fòssil de vertebrats del Pliocè basal obtingut a Na Burguesa-1 (NB-1) i del jaciment del Pleistocè-Holocè des Pouàs a Eivissa. La troballa de nous tàxons en aquests jaciments ha permès avaluar l’origen paleobiogeogràfic de les faunes post-messinianes de les Illes Balears, explorar les condicions que poden haver influït en el procés de colonització, explorar la possible existència de tàxons relictes pre-messinians i analitzar el procés d'extinció dels llinatges faunístics post-messinians.
Els fòssils de NB-1 es van recuperar d’unes bretxes mitjançant un llarg tractament químic. Aquest procediment va permetre detectar 4 espècies diferents d’anurs, unes 13 espècies de rèptils, 6 espècies de mamífers i almenys una dotzena d’espècies d’ocells. Totes aquestes espècies, la majoria pertanyents a llinatges filètics registrats per primera vegada a l’illa de Mallorca, ens ofereixen una visió més precisa de l’estoc inicial que va arribar a les Illes Balears durant la Crisi salina del Messinià (MSC).
La Memòria inclou la descripció de Paraethomys balearicus, una nova espècie insular de múrid obtinguda a NB-1, amb dents hipsodontes de mida mitjana. Conserva trets propers als presents a les primeres poblacions de P. meini del Turolià superior, el seu presumpte avantpassat continental. Aquesta relació entre ambdós tàxons dóna un suport addicional a un origen messinià per a l'anomenada fauna de Myotragus.
També inclou la caracterització del conjunt paleornitològic obtingut a NB-1, compost per Tyto sp.1, Tyto sp. 2, Otus sp., un Phasianidae, una espècie de Charadriiformes i almenys cinc passeriformes. La depredació per almenys Tyto sp. 1 i Otus sp. hauria pogut formar la tafocenosi de NB-1, que cobreix l’àmplia gamma de mides de preses detectades al dipòsit.
D’altra banda, s’ha observat que un nou glírid obtingut a NB-1, del qual deriva el llinatge filogenètic de Hypnomys, es relaciona amb un avantpassat que es localitzaria al Miocè mitjà-final. En contrast amb la hipòtesis més acceptada, l’elevada complexitat dental del glírid NB-1 exclou la relació directa del llinatge de Hypnomys amb Eliomys, el qual es caracteritza per un patró dental molt més senzill.
La revisió del material des Pouàs ha permès detectar la presència al plistocè superior i l’holocè d’un escurçó nan endèmic d’Eivissa, Vipera latastei ebusitana, probablement relacionada amb un possible escurçó de la cova de Ca na Reia. L’anàlisi filogenètica indica que V. l. ebusitana, deriva molt probablement d’una població de V. latastei del llevant peninsular. Les diferències morfològiques entre V. l. ebusitana i V. latastei suggereixen que es tracta d'un nou tàxon nan resultat de processos evolutius insulars.
La presència de Apocricetus darderi i Paraethomys balearicus a Mallorca ha permès datar l'arribada d'un estoc faunístic continental del Turolià tardà durant la MSC. Aquests tàxons, juntament amb Alytes aff. muletensis de NB-1 i Debruijnimys sp. del Pliocè de ses Fontanelles a Eivissa, situa la regió d’origen de la dispersió faunística principalment al SE de la península Ibèrica. A més, els corredors riparians podrien haver facilitat l’arribada de tàxons altament dependents dels hàbitats humits, com l’ancestre del ferreret Alytes i Discoglossus. D'altra banda, les anàlisis moleculars suggereixen que la separació de l'escurçó nan d'Eivissa de les poblacions ibèriques de V. latastei es va produir fa menys de 1,3 milions d'anys. Aquest fet el convertiria en el primer vertebrat terrestre que arribà a les Balears per via ultramarina.
La millora del coneixement del registre fòssil de vertebrats balears revela quatre episodis d’extincions faunístiques post-messinianes, els quals van afectar cadascuna de les illes de manera diferencial en els darrers 5 milions d’anys. Les causes d’aquestes extincions s'han relacionat amb canvis en les condicions ambientals, factors de competitivitat interespecífica i, finalment, amb l'arribada dels humans.<br>The present report deals with previously unknown post-Messinian fossil vertebrates of the Balearic Islands. The research mainly focused on the basal Pliocene vertebrate fossils recovered at Na Burguesa-1 (NB-1) and at the Pleistocene-Holocene site of Es Pouàs in Eivissa. The discovery of new taxa at both sites has enabled to refine the paleogeographical origin of the post-Messinian faunas of the Balearics, assess the conditions that could have influenced the colonization process, explore the possible existence of pre-Messinian relict taxa and analyze the process of extinction of the faunal lineages.
The present report includes the description of Paraethomys balearicus, which preserves traits close to those present in the earliest populations of P. meini from the upper Turolian of the Iberian Peninsula, its assumed mainland ancestor. Also includes the characterization of the paleornithological assemblage found at NB-1, which includes three nocturnal birds of prey (Tyto sp.1, Tyto sp.2 and Otus sp.), a representative of the Phasianidae, a species of Charadriiformes, and at least five Passeriformes. Furthermore, a new glirid discovered in NB-1 seems to be on the origin of the Hypnomys phylogenetic lineage and is related to a Middle-Late Miocene ancestor. And the review of the material obtained at es Pouàs site allowed the detection of a dwarf endemic viper, Vipera latastei ebusitana. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that V. l. ebusitana, most probably derived from a northeast Iberian population of V. latastei.
The endemic P. balearicus together with Apocricetus darderi, Alytes aff. muletensis from NB-1 and Debruijnimys sp. from the Pliocene of ses Fontanelles (Eivissa), suggest that the arrival to the island of a continental faunal stock of late Turolian age during the MSC, point out to SE Iberia as the source region of the faunal newcomers. In addition, riparian corridors could have played a role facilitating the arrival of taxa highly dependent on humid habitats. On the other hand, analyses using molecular clocks suggest that the separation of the Eivissan dwarf viper from the Iberian populations of V. latastei occurred around 1.5 million years ago, suggesting an overseas colonization.
The study of all the above-mentioned material has revealed that the vertebrate fossil record of the Balearic Islands has passed through four different post-Messinian faunal extinction episodes, probably related to changes in environmental conditions, interspecific competition and, especially to the arrival of humans and of their accompanying species to the archipelago.
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Komarower, Patricia 1950. "The development of vertebrate palaeontology in China during the first half of the twentieth century." Monash University, School of Geosciences, 2002. http://arrow.monash.edu.au/hdl/1959.1/9337.
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Albright, Gavan McBride. "A reinterpretation of the small Captorhinid Reptile Captorhinikos Parvus Olson as a new genus, reanalysis of its cranial anatomy, and a phylogenetic analysis of the basal reptilian family Captorhinidae." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2003. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/2178.
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The cranial anatomy of the basal captorhinid reptile Captorhinikos parvus (Reptilia, Captorhinidae), is reinterpreted here based on analysis of a group of new specimens recovered subsequent to its original diagnosis as well as further analysis of the original specimens utilized in E.C. Olson's original characterization of the species. Structural features inconsistent with the generic description suggest the redefinition of C. parvus as a new genus, Rhodotheratus parvus. Analyses of basal members and selected derived members support the characterization of Rhodotheratus as a distinct taxon.
Books on the topic "Fossil vertebrates"
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E, Theodorou G., ed. Fossil vertebrates. Gordon and Breach Science Publishers, 1988.
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David, Unwin, ed. Cretaceous fossil vertebrates. The Palaeontological Association, 1999.
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1950-, Janis Christine M., and Heiser John B, eds. Vertebrate life. 8th ed. Pearson Education / Benjamin Cummings, 2009.
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1950-, Janis Christine M., and Heiser John B, eds. Vertebrate life. 5th ed. Prentice Hall, 1999.
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1950-, Janis Christine M., and Heiser John B, eds. Vertebrate life. 7th ed. Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005.
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B, Heiser John, and McFarland William N. 1925-, eds. Vertebrate life. 3rd ed. Macmillan, 1989.
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1950-, Janis Christine M., and Heiser John B, eds. Vertebrate life. 6th ed. Prentice Hall, 2002.
Find full textBook chapters on the topic "Fossil vertebrates"
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Benton, Michael J. "How to Study Fossil Vertebrates." In Vertebrate Palaeontology. Springer US, 1997. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2865-8_2.
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Argyriou, Thodoris. "The Fossil Record of Ray-Finned Fishes (Actinopterygii) in Greece." In Fossil Vertebrates of Greece Vol. 1. Springer International Publishing, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68398-6_4.
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AbstractThe nowadays hyper-diverse clade of Actinopterygii (ray-finned bony fishes) is characterized by a long evolutionary history and an extremely rich global fossil record. This work builds upon 170 years of research on the fossil record of this clade in Greece. The taxonomy and spatiotemporal distribution of the ray-finned fish record of Greece are critically revisited and placed in an updated systematic and stratigraphic framework, while some new fossil data and interpretations are also provided. Greece hosts diverse ray-finned fish assemblages, which range in age from Lower Jurassic to Quaternary. Most known assemblages are of Miocene–Pliocene age and of marine affinities. A minimum of 32 families, followed by at least 34 genera and 22 species, have been recognized in Greece. From originally two named genera and seven species, only two fossil species, established on Greek material, are accepted as valid. Additional taxonomic diversity is anticipated, pending detailed investigations. From a taxonomic perspective, previous knowledge lies on preliminary or authoritative assessments of fossils, with many decades-old treatments needing revision. Little is known about Mesozoic–early Cenozoic occurrences or freshwater assemblages. Given the proven potential of the Greek fossil record, this chapter stresses the need for additional exploration and the establishment of permanent, curated collections of fossil fishes in Greek institutions. Directions for future research are discussed.
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Athanassiou, Athanassios. "The Fossil Record of Continental Fossil Deer (Mammalia: Artiodactyla: Cervidae) in Greece." In Fossil Vertebrates of Greece Vol. 2. Springer International Publishing, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68442-6_6.
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Harvati, Katerina. "The Hominin Fossil Record from Greece." In Fossil Vertebrates of Greece Vol. 1. Springer International Publishing, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68398-6_19.
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Koukousioura, Olga, and Vasiliki–Grigoria Dimou. "The Fossil Record of Conodonts in Greece." In Fossil Vertebrates of Greece Vol. 1. Springer International Publishing, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68398-6_3.
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Maravelis, Angelos G., Nicolina Bourli, Evangelos Vlachos, and Avraam Zelilidis. "The Sedimentary Basins from the Miocene to the Present in Greece: Examples for the Most Studied Basins from North Greece." In Fossil Vertebrates of Greece Vol. 1. Springer International Publishing, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68398-6_2.
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Vasileiadou, Katerina, and Ioanna Sylvestrou. "The Fossil Record of Hares, Rabbits, and Pikas (Mammalia: Lagomorpha) in Greece." In Fossil Vertebrates of Greece Vol. 1. Springer International Publishing, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68398-6_16.
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Iliopoulos, George, Kaliana Svana, and Socrates Roussiakis. "The Fossil Record of Sea Cows (Mammalia: Sirenia) in Greece." In Fossil Vertebrates of Greece Vol. 1. Springer International Publishing, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68398-6_14.
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Georgalis, Georgios L., and Massimo Delfino. "The Fossil Record of Crocodylians (Reptilia: Crocodylia) in Greece." In Fossil Vertebrates of Greece Vol. 1. Springer International Publishing, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68398-6_8.
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Koufos, George D. "The Fossil Record of the Miocene Hominoids (Mammalia: Primates: Hominoidea) in Greece." In Fossil Vertebrates of Greece Vol. 1. Springer International Publishing, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68398-6_18.
Full textConference papers on the topic "Fossil vertebrates"
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Chang, Clara, James Napoli, James Napoli, et al. "NOVEL APPROACHES FOR INTERPRETING DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENTS OF FOSSIL VERTEBRATES." In GSA 2020 Connects Online. Geological Society of America, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/abs/2020am-357789.
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Órfão, Joana, and Rui Castanhinha. "SCULPTURED CRANIUMS AND HOW TO DESCRIBE THEM IN FOSSIL VERTEBRATES." In GSA 2020 Connects Online. Geological Society of America, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/abs/2020am-357390.
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Lamanna, Matthew, Gabriel A. Casal, Lucio M. Ibiricu, et al. "EXTRAORDINARY NEW FOSSIL LOCALITY CASTS LIGHT ON CENTRAL PATAGONIA’S LAST CRETACEOUS CONTINENTAL VERTEBRATES." In GSA Connects 2023 Meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Geological Society of America, 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/abs/2023am-395944.
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Chen, Yu-Cheng, Ya-Na Wu, Dar-Bin Shieh, Chi-Kuang Sun, and Robert R. Reisz. "3D Visualization of Dental Anatomy in Ancient Fossil Vertebrates by Using Third Harmonic Generation Microscopy." In CLEO: Applications and Technology. OSA, 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/cleo_at.2014.ath3p.3.
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Cruz, José, and Emily Lindsey. "PALEOCLIMATIC RECONSTRUCTION OF THE LATE PLEISTOCENE COASTAL NEOTROPICS USING FOSSIL SMALL VERTEBRATES FROM TALARA, PERU." In GSA Connects 2023 Meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Geological Society of America, 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/abs/2023am-391460.
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Cantrell, Amanda Kaye, and Spencer Lucas. "Type Specimens of Fossil Vertebrates in the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Paleontology Collection." In 2016 New Mexico Geological Society Annual Spring Meeting. New Mexico Geological Society, 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.56577/sm-2016.453.
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Broussard, David, Jeffrey Trop, James Boyle, et al. "FIRST RECORDS OF FOSSIL VERTEBRATES FROM THE MARINE UPPER DEVONIAN LOCK HAVEN FORMATION IN NORTH-CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA, USA." In GSA Connects 2023 Meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Geological Society of America, 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/abs/2023am-392207.
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Williamson, Garrett R. "THE STRATIGRAPHIC POSITION OF FOSSIL VERTEBRATES FROM THE POJOAQUE MEMBER OF THE TESUQUE FORMATION (MIDDLE MIOCENE, LATE BARSTOVIAN) NEAR ESPAÑOLA, NEW MEXICO." In 50th Annual GSA South-Central Section Meeting. Geological Society of America, 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/abs/2016sc-272059.
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Daniel, Joseph. "FOSSIL VERTEBRATE DIVERSITY IN ARKANSAS." In 52nd Annual GSA South-Central Section Meeting - 2018. Geological Society of America, 2018. http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/abs/2018sc-310162.
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Suharyogi, Ifan Yoga Pratama, Agustina Djafar, Rahajeng Ayu Permana Sari, and Paradita Kenyo Arum Dewantoro. "Geological Museum Innovations to Dealing with Covid-19 Pandemic | Inovasi Museum Geologi dalam Menghadapi Pandemi Covid-19." In The SEAMEO SPAFA International Conference on Southeast Asian Archaeology and Fine Arts (SPAFACON2021). SEAMEO SPAFA, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.26721/spafa.pqcnu8815a-34.
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Bandung Geological Museum as the thematic earth museum in Indonesia has been established on 16 May 1929. This museum has 417,882 collections, there are mineral and rock collections, vertebrate, invertebrate, paleobotanical fossils, and artifacts. As a government museum, the Geological Museum has a duty to disseminating geological information. This article aims to identify the Geological Museum’s activities during the Covid-19 pandemic. After the temporary closure in March 2020, the museum activities were carried out virtually, including Collection Talk, Day and Night at the Museum, virtual tours, Bincang Museum, virtual geoscience socialization, and introduce the collections by social media. Museum Geologi Bandung sebagai museum kebumian di Indonesia telah berdiri sejak 16 Mei 1929. Museum ini memiliki 417.882 koleksi, berupa koleksi mineral dan batuan, fosil vertebrata, fosil invertebrata, fosil paleobotani dan artefak. Sebagai instansi yang bertugas menyebarluaskan informasi kegelogian, dimasa pandemi Covid-19, Museum Geologi berinovasi melakukan kegiatan-kegiatan edukasi dalam bentuk virtual. Tujuan penulisan artikel ini adalah melakukan identifikasi kegiatan dilakukan Museum Geologi selama pandemi Covid-19. Pasca penutupan sementara Museum Geologi pada bulan Maret 2020, kegiatan yang dilakukan berupa kegiatan virtual diantaranya: Collection Talk, Day and Night at the Museum, virtual tour, Bincang Museum, sosialisasi kebumian secara virtual, dan pengenalan koleksi melalui sosial media.
Reports on the topic "Fossil vertebrates"
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Rich, Megan, Charles Beightol, Christy Visaggi, Justin Tweet, and Vincent Santucci. Vicksburg National Military Park: Paleontological resource inventory (sensitive version). National Park Service, 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.36967/2297321.
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Vicksburg National Military Park (VICK) was established for its historical significance as a one of the principle military sieges resulting in a turning point during the American Civil War. The steep terrain around the city of Vicksburg was integral in the military siege, providing high vantage points and a substrate that was easy to entrench for the armies, but unknown to many is the fossil content, particularly a diversity of fossil mollusks. These fossils at VICK are important paleontological resources which have yet to receive focused attention from park staff, visitors, and researchers. The park’s geology is dominated by windblown silt from the last Ice Age which overlays river-transported gravels and bedrock of the late Oligocene–early Miocene-age Catahoula Formation or early Oligocene Vicksburg Group. The park is home to the type section (a geological reference locality upon which a formation is based) for the Mint Spring Formation, one of the most fossiliferous formations in this group (Henderson et al. 2022). Beginning roughly 32 million years ago (Dockery 2019), the early Oligocene deposits of the Vicksburg Group were deposited as the sea level along the Gulf Coast shore repeatedly rose and fell. The eponymously named Vicksburg Group is comprised of, from oldest to youngest, the Forest Hill, Mint Spring, Marianna Limestone, Glendon Limestone, Byram, and Bucatunna Formations. Each of these formations are within VICK’s boundaries, in addition to outcrops of the younger Catahoula Formation. Paleozoic fossils transported by the ancestral Mississippi River have also been redeposited within VICK as pre-loess stream gravels. Overlying these layers is the Quaternary-age silt which composes the loess found throughout VICK, meaning the park’s fossils span the entire Phanerozoic Eon. The fossils of VICK consist mostly of near-shore marine Oligocene invertebrates including corals, bryozoans, bivalves, gastropods, scaphopods, ostracods, and more, though terrestrial and freshwater snails of the loess, microfossils, plant fossils, occasional vertebrates, and others can also be found in the park. Notable historical figures such as Charles Alexandre Lesueur, Charles Lyell, and John Wesley Powell all collected fossils or studied geology in the Vicksburg area. The Vicksburg Group is culturally relevant as well, as the Glendon Limestone Formation has been identified by its embedded fossils as a source rock for Native American effigy pipes. This paleontological resource inventory is the first of its kind for VICK. Although Vicksburg fossils have most recently been studied as part of the Gulf Coast Inventory & Monitoring Network (Kenworthy et al. 2007), the park has never received a comprehensive, dedicated fossil inventory before this report. At least 27 fossil species, listed in Appendix B, have been named and described from specimens collected from within VICK’s lands, and VICK fossils can be found at six or more non-NPS museum repositories. Beginning in January 2022, field surveys were undertaken at VICK, covering nearly all the park’s wooded areas, streams, and other portions beyond the preserved trenches and tour road. Fossils were collected or observed at 72 localities. These specimens will be added into VICK’s museum collections, which previously contained no paleontological resources. Considering the minimal attention dedicated to these resources in the past, these newly acquired fossil specimens may be used in the future for educational, interpretive, or research purposes. Future park construction needs should take into account the protection of these resources by avoiding important localities or allowing collection efforts before localities become inaccessible or lost.
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Crystal, Victoria, Justin Tweet, and Vincent Santucci. Yucca House National Monument: Paleontological resource inventory (public version). National Park Service, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.36967/nrr-2293617.
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Yucca House National Monument (YUHO) in southwestern Colorado protects unexcavated archeological structures that were constructed by the Ancestral Puebloan people between 1050 and 1300 CE. It was established by Woodrow Wilson by presidential proclamation in 1919 and named “Yucca House” by archeologist Jesse Fewkes as a reference to the names used for this area by the local Ute, Tewa Pueblo, and other Native groups. It was originally only 3.9 ha (9.6 ac) of land, but in 1990, an additional 9.7 ha (24 ac) of land was donated by Hallie Ismay, allowing for the protection of additional archeological resources. Another acquisition of new land is currently underway, which will allow for the protection of even more archeological sites. The archeological resources at YUHO remain unexcavated to preserve the integrity of the structures and provide opportunities for future generations of scientists. One of the factors that contributed to the Ancestral Puebloans settling in the area was the presence of natural springs. These springs likely provided enough water to sustain the population, and the Ancestral Puebloans built structures around one of the larger springs, Aztec Spring. Yet, geologic features and processes were shaping the area of southwest Colorado long before the Ancestral Puebloans constructed their dwellings. The geologic history of YUHO spans millions of years. The oldest geologic unit exposed in the monument is the Late Cretaceous Juana Lopez Member of the Mancos Shale. During the deposition of the Mancos Shale, southwestern Colorado was at the bottom of an inland seaway. Beginning about 100 million years ago, sea level rose and flooded the interior of North America, creating the Western Interior Seaway, which hosted a thriving marine ecosystem. The fossiliferous Juana Lopez Member preserves this marine environment, including the organisms that inhabited it. The Juana Lopez Member has yielded a variety of marine fossils, including clams, oysters, ammonites, and vertebrates from within YUHO and the surrounding area. There are four species of fossil bivalves (the group including clams and oysters) found within YUHO: Cameleolopha lugubris, Inoceramus dimidius, Inoceramus perplexus, and Pycnodonte sp. or Rhynchostreon sp. There are six species of ammonites in three genera found within YUHO: Baculites undulatus, Baculites yokoyamai, Prionocyclus novimexicanus, Prionocyclus wyomingensis, Scaphites warreni, and Scaphites whitfieldi. There is one unidentifiable vertebrate bone that has been found in YUHO. Fossils within YUHO were first noticed in 1875–1876 by W. H. Holmes, who observed fossils within the building stones of the Ancestral Puebloans’ structures. Nearly half of the building stones in the archeological structures at YUHO are fossiliferous slabs of the Juana Lopez Member. There are outcrops of the Juana Lopez 0.8 km (0.5 mi) to the west of the structures, and it is hypothesized that the Ancestral Puebloans collected the building stones from these or other nearby outcrops. Following the initial observation of fossils, very little paleontology work has been done in the monument. There has only been one study focused on the paleontology and geology of YUHO, which was prepared by paleontologist Mary Griffitts in 2001. As such, this paleontological resource inventory report serves to provide information to YUHO staff for use in formulating management activities and procedures associated with the paleontological resources. In 2021, a paleontological survey of YUHO was conducted to revisit previously known fossiliferous sites, document new fossil localities, and assess collections of YUHO fossils housed at the Mesa Verde National Park Visitor and Research Center. Notable discoveries made during this survey include: several fossils of Cameleolopha lugubris, which had not previously been found within YUHO; and a fossil of Pycnodonte sp. or Rhynchostreon sp. that was previously unknown from within YUHO.
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Chriscoe, Mackenzie, Rowan Lockwood, Justin Tweet, and Vincent Santucci. Colonial National Historical Park: Paleontological resource inventory (public version). National Park Service, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.36967/nrr-2291851.
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Colonial National Historical Park (COLO) in eastern Virginia was established for its historical significance, but significant paleontological resources are also found within its boundaries. The bluffs around Yorktown are composed of sedimentary rocks and deposits of the Yorktown Formation, a marine unit deposited approximately 4.9 to 2.8 million years ago. When the Yorktown Formation was being deposited, the shallow seas were populated by many species of invertebrates, vertebrates, and micro-organisms which have left body fossils and trace fossils behind. Corals, bryozoans, bivalves, gastropods, scaphopods, worms, crabs, ostracodes, echinoids, sharks, bony fishes, whales, and others were abundant. People have long known about the fossils of the Yorktown area. Beginning in the British colonial era, fossiliferous deposits were used to make lime and construct roads, while more consolidated intervals furnished building stone. Large shells were used as plates and dippers. Collection of specimens for study began in the late 17th century, before they were even recognized as fossils. The oldest image of a fossil from North America is of a typical Yorktown Formation shell now known as Chesapecten jeffersonius, probably collected from the Yorktown area and very likely from within what is now COLO. Fossil shells were observed by participants of the 1781 siege of Yorktown, and the landmark known as “Cornwallis Cave” is carved into rock made of shell fragments. Scientific description of Yorktown Formation fossils began in the early 19th century. At least 25 fossil species have been named from specimens known to have been discovered within COLO boundaries, and at least another 96 have been named from specimens potentially discovered within COLO, but with insufficient locality information to be certain. At least a dozen external repositories and probably many more have fossils collected from lands now within COLO, but again limited locality information makes it difficult to be sure. This paleontological resource inventory is the first of its kind for Colonial National Historical Park (COLO). Although COLO fossils have been studied as part of the Northeast Coastal Barrier Network (NCBN; Tweet et al. 2014) and, to a lesser extent, as part of a thematic inventory of caves (Santucci et al. 2001), the park had not received a comprehensive paleontological inventory before this report. This inventory allows for a deeper understanding of the park’s paleontological resources and compiles information from historical papers as well as recently completed field work. In summer 2020, researchers went into the field and collected eight bulk samples from three different localities within COLO. These samples will be added to COLO’s museum collections, making their overall collection more robust. In the future, these samples may be used for educational purposes, both for the general public and for employees of the park.
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Harrington, Matthew, Amanda Lanik, Chad Hults, and Patrick Druckenmiller. Focused condition assessment of paleontological resources within Katmai National Park and Preserve. National Park Service, 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.36967/2298782.
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The paleontological resources (fossils) of Katmai National Park and Preserve (also referred to as ?the park? or ?Katmai? throughout this report) record the evolution of the park?s ancient life throughout most of the Mesozoic Era and portions of the Cenozoic Era (see Table 1 for a geologic time scale). A focused condition assessment (FCA) of the paleontological resources of Katmai was conducted in 2021; this report summarizes the findings of the FCA, including information on the park?s geology and paleontology, management issues related to paleontological resources, and the results of a field survey of the Kamishak Bay area. The FCA project also included fieldwork to monitor fossils at Kaguyak Point. The results of the Kaguyak Point monitoring are presented in Harrington et al. (In preparation). The first section of this report (?Paleontology?) examines the fossiliferous geologic units within Katmai as well as the fossils found within them. Fossils range from small bivalves and belemnites to large ammonites and a possible dinosaur bone. Plant fossils are abundant in the Eocene-aged Copper Lake Formation, Ketavik Formation, and Hemlock Conglomerate. The Jurassic-aged Naknek and Cretaceous-aged Kaguyak Formations are the most abundantly fossiliferous units within the park, containing ammonites, bivalves, brachiopods, gastropods, and other invertebrates. The ?Paleontological Resources Monitoring and Management? section of this report discusses potential threats to paleontological resources and management recommendations. The fossils within Katmai are nonrenewable resources that the NPS is mandated to protect, preserve, and manage. Fossils can be at risk of damage or loss from natural (e.g., erosion) and/or anthropogenic (e.g., unauthorized collection) forces. Damage or loss of fossils greatly reduces the scientific value they possess, as well as degrades the overall heritage of the park. Most of the park?s fossils have a low risk for anthropogenic impacts because many fossil sites are remote and receive little visitation. Areas in the park that contain fossils and receive visitors include the Brooks Camp area, Ukak Falls, the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, Hallo Bay, and Kaguyak Point. Fieldwork was conducted during the summer of 2021 to explore Katmai for new vertebrate fossil localities (?Kamishak Bay Reconnaissance? section of this report). The current extent of vertebrate fossils within Katmai is limited to a single heavily worn bone chunk that was found in the vicinity of Ukak Falls. Vertebrate fossils have been uncovered south of the park near Becharof Lake and near Chignik Bay in the Indecision Creek Member of the Naknek Formation. To search for vertebrate fossils, exposures of the Indecision Creek Member of the Naknek Formation were surveyed along the coast of Kamishak Bay. Bluffs and outcrops were examined for fossils and evidence supporting the existence of vertebrate trackways or remains. The study determined that exposures of the Indecision Creek Member along Kamishak Bay are unlikely to contain vertebrate fossils. This portion of the member contained marine fossils and driftwood, indicating deposition in a marine environment, and the rock outcrops fractured perpendicularly to the bedding plane, limiting the potential for preserving fossil trackways. Future exploration for vertebrate fossils in Katmai could target Mt Katolinat and Ukak Falls.
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Nelson, Margot, Michael Antonioni, Vincent Santucci, and Justin Tweet. Oxon Run Parkway: Paleontological resource inventory; supplement to the National Capital Parks-East paleontological resource inventory. National Park Service, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.36967/nrr-2287217.
Full textAbstract:
Oxon Run Parkway (OXRN) is a 51-hectare (126-acre) natural area within Washington, D.C. administered by the National Park Service under National Capital Parks East (NACE). The original plan called for a road, slated to follow Oxon Run stream, but this never came to fruition; despite this, the moniker stuck. The majority of the original Oxon Run Parkway is managed by the District of Columbia. The section of Oxon Run Parkway under NPS jurisdiction contains wetlands and forests, as well as the only McAteean magnolia bogs still remaining in the District. The lower Cretaceous Potomac Group, known as one of the few dinosaur-bearing rock units on the east coast of North America, crops out within Oxon Run. One of the most prevalent fossil-bearing resources are the siderite, or “bog iron” sandstone slabs that sometimes preserve the footprints or trackways of various vertebrates, including dinosaurs. Such trackways have been reported from Potomac Group outcrops throughout the Atlantic Coastal Plain of Maryland and Virginia. In 2019, National Capital Parks-East took possession of such a track, referred to a dinosaur, collected by paleontologist Dr. Peter Kranz. This report was compiled after a paleontological survey of Oxon Run Parkway and is intended as a supplement to the National Capital Parks East Paleontological Resource Inventory (Nelson et al. 2019). This report contains information on the history of Oxon Run Parkway and its geology, as well as discussion of the fossil track.
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Johnson, Emily, Sofia Andeskie, Justin Tweet, and Vincent Santucci. Mojave National Preserve: Paleontological resource inventory (public version). National Park Service, 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.36967/2299742.
Full textAbstract:
Mojave National Preserve (MOJA) in the Mojave Desert of southern California hosts an extensive geologic record, with units ranging in age from the Paleoproterozoic (2.5 to 1.7 billion years ago) to the Quaternary (present day). MOJA topography is dominated by numerous mountain ranges hosting extensive geological exposures divided by expansive valleys, dunes, and a low elevation dry salt lake. Some geological units are fossil-bearing, both within the preserve and in adjacent lands outside the boundaries of the preserve. The fossils preserved within MOJA span from the Proterozoic Eon (uncertain maximum age of fossiliferous rocks, but at least approximately 550 million years ago) to the Holocene Epoch (beginning 11,700 years ago). Abundant and diverse marine fossils are preserved in units dated from the late Proterozoic through most of the Cambrian, as well as from the Devonian through the early Permian. More recent volcanic tuff and unconsolidated sedimentary deposits in valleys preserve Cenozoic flora and fauna. Geologic surveys documented paleontological resources within the modern (2023) boundaries of MOJA as early as 1914, but fossils were rarely the focus of detailed study, and no comprehensive inventory was compiled. John Hazzard was the first geologist to devote significant attention to the study of paleontology within MOJA. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Hazzard and collaborators identified Paleozoic assemblages within the Kelso and Providence Mountains. Between the 1950s to 1980s, several dissertations and theses described the geology of various areas within MOJA, in which the authors provided limited paleontological descriptions and fossil locality information. Jack Mount conducted extensive paleontological research in the Cambrian sections of the Providence Mountains in the 1970s and 1980s, focusing on olenellid trilobites in the Latham Shale. As early as the 1960s, rockhounds collecting opalite and petrified wood discovered fossilized plant material and vertebrate bones in areas now in south-central MOJA and notified paleontologists at San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM). This resulted in one of the only paleontological excavations in what is now MOJA, with collections of Miocene vertebrate fauna including camelid and early rhino material. More recently, James Hagadorn reported the late-surviving Ediacaran organism Swartpuntia in an assemblage from the Wood Canyon Formation of the Kelso Mountains in 2000. From October 2021 to January 2022, a field inventory was conducted to determine the scope and distribution (both temporal and geospatial) of paleontological resources at MOJA. An additional week of field work was conducted in December 2022. A total of thirteen localities were documented and field-checked throughout the preserve. These localities resulted from field checks of previously reported fossil sites, as well as new discoveries based on literature searches and information provided by MOJA staff. The findings of this report constitute a baseline of paleontology resource data for MOJA, and reflect the current understanding of the scope, significance, and distribution of MOJA’s fossil record. This report provides a foundation for the management and protection of paleontological resources within MOJA and supports future education, interpretation,
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Johnson, Emily, Sofia Andeskie, Justin Tweet, and Vincent Santucci. Mojave National Preserve: Paleontological resource inventory (sensitive version). National Park Service, 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.36967/2299463.
Full textAbstract:
Mojave National Preserve (MOJA) in the Mojave Desert of southern California hosts an extensive geologic record, with units ranging in age from the Paleoproterozoic (2.5 to 1.7 billion years ago) to the Quaternary (present day). MOJA topography is dominated by numerous mountain ranges hosting extensive geological exposures divided by expansive valleys, dunes, and a low elevation dry salt lake. Some geological units are fossil-bearing, both within the preserve and in adjacent lands outside the boundaries of the preserve. The fossils preserved within MOJA span from the Proterozoic Eon (uncertain maximum age of fossiliferous rocks, but at least approximately 550 million years ago) to the Holocene Epoch (beginning 11,700 years ago). Abundant and diverse marine fossils are preserved in units dated from the late Proterozoic through most of the Cambrian, as well as from the Devonian through the early Permian. More recent volcanic tuff and unconsolidated sedimentary deposits in valleys preserve Cenozoic flora and fauna. Geologic surveys documented paleontological resources within the modern (2023) boundaries of MOJA as early as 1914, but fossils were rarely the focus of detailed study, and no comprehensive inventory was compiled. John Hazzard was the first geologist to devote significant attention to the study of paleontology within MOJA. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Hazzard and collaborators identified Paleozoic assemblages within the Kelso and Providence Mountains. Between the 1950s to 1980s, several dissertations and theses described the geology of various areas within MOJA, in which the authors provided limited paleontological descriptions and fossil locality information. Jack Mount conducted extensive paleontological research in the Cambrian sections of the Providence Mountains in the 1970s and 1980s, focusing on olenellid trilobites in the Latham Shale. As early as the 1960s, rockhounds collecting opalite and petrified wood at Hackberry Wash discovered fossilized plant material and vertebrate bones and notified paleontologists at San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM). This resulted in one of the only paleontological excavations in what is now MOJA, with collections of Miocene vertebrate fauna including camelid and early rhino material. More recently, James Hagadorn reported the late-surviving Ediacaran organism Swartpuntia in an assemblage from the Wood Canyon Formation of the Kelso Mountains in 2000. From October 2021 to January 2022, a field inventory was conducted to determine the scope and distribution (both temporal and geospatial) of paleontological resources at MOJA. An additional week of field work was conducted in December 2022. A total of thirteen localities were documented and field-checked throughout the preserve. These localities resulted from field checks of previously reported fossil sites, as well as new discoveries based on literature searches and information provided by MOJA staff. The findings of this report constitute a baseline of paleontology resource data for MOJA, and reflect the current understanding of the scope, significance, and distribution of MOJA’s fossil record. This report provides a foundation for the management and protection of paleontological resources within MOJA and supports future education, interpretation, and research.
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Herring, Theodore, Justin Tweet, and Vincent Santucci. Wind Cave National Park: Paleontological resource inventory (public version). National Park Service, 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.36967/2299620.
Full textAbstract:
Wind Cave National Park (WICA), the first cave in the world to become a national park, is famous for the park’s namesake feature. Wind Cave, named for the noticeable wind-flow patterns observed as air moves in and out of the natural cave entrance, is currently the third longest cave system in the United States and seventh longest in the world. Wind Cave formed when groundwater dissolved buried layers of the fossiliferous Madison Limestone, which were deposited during the Mississippian subperiod approximately 359 to 347 million years ago. In addition to the Madison Limestone, several other formations are exposed within the park, dating from the early Proterozoic to the Holocene. The presence of fossils within the park has been known since at least the late 19th century when early settlers explored the cave to turn the geologic feature into a tourist attraction. However, most of the geologic work conducted during the park’s history has focused on the exploration and development of the cave itself, rather than its fossils. Paleontology became a bigger focus in the late 20th century when the park partnered with the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology to recover and research fossils found within the cave and on the park’s surface. Other partnerships include those with the Mammoth Site of Hot Springs and Northern Arizona University, through which researchers have studied Quaternary cave deposits found across the park. In ascending order (oldest to youngest), the geologic formations at WICA include undifferentiated lower Proterozoic rocks (Precambrian), Harney Peak Granite (Precambrian), Deadwood Formation (Cambrian–Ordovician), Englewood Limestone (Devonian–Mississippian), Madison Limestone (Mississippian), Minnelusa Formation (Pennsylvanian–Permian), Opeche Shale (Permian), Minnekahta Limestone (Permian), Spearfish Formation (Permian–Triassic), Sundance Formation (Middle–Upper Jurassic), Unkpapa Sandstone (Upper Jurassic), Lakota Formation (Lower Cretaceous), Fall River Formation (Lower Cretaceous), White River Group (Eocene–Oligocene), and Quaternary alluvium, conglomerate, and gravel deposits. The units that are confirmed to be fossiliferous within the park are the Deadwood Formation, Englewood Limestone, Madison Limestone, and Minnelusa Formation, which contain a variety of marine fossils from a shallow sea deposition environment; the Sundance Formation, which has much younger marine fossils; the Lakota Formation, which has yielded petrified wood; and the White River Group and Quaternary deposits, which contain vertebrate and invertebrate fossils deposited in and near freshwater streams, lakes, and ponds. Many of the fossils of WICA are visible from or near public trails and roads, which puts them at risk of poaching or damage, and there is evidence that fossil poaching occurred at several of the Klukas sites soon after they were discovered. Furthermore, there are several fossil sites on the tour routes within Wind Cave, which are of value to interpretation and the park experience. WICA has implemented cyclic fossil surveys in the past to monitor site conditions, and it is recommended that this paleontological resource monitoring be continued in the future.
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Salcido, Charles, Patrick Wilson, Justin Tweet, Blake McCan, Clint Boyd, and Vincent Santucci. Theodore Roosevelt National Park: Paleontological resource inventory (public version). National Park Service, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.36967/nrr-2293509.
Full textAbstract:
Theodore Roosevelt National Park (THRO) in western North Dakota was established for its historical connections with President Theodore Roosevelt. It contains not only historical and cultural resources, but abundant natural resources as well. Among these is one of the best geological and paleontological records of the Paleocene Epoch (66 to 56 million years ago) of any park in the National Park System. The Paleocene Epoch is of great scientific interest due to the great mass extinction that occurred at its opening (the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event), and the unusual climatic event that began at the end of the epoch (the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum, an anomalous global temperature spike). It is during the Paleocene that mammals began to diversify and move into the large-bodied niches vacated by dinosaurs. The rocks exposed at THRO preserve the latter part of the Paleocene, when mammals were proliferating and crocodiles were the largest predators. Western North Dakota was warmer and wetter with swampy forests; today these are preserved as the “petrified forests” that are one of THRO’s notable features. Despite abundant fossil resources, THRO has not historically been a scene of significant paleontological exploration. For example, the fossil forests have only had one published scientific description, and that report focused on the associated paleosols (“fossil soils”). The widespread petrified wood of the area has been known since at least the 19th century and was considered significant enough to be a tourist draw in the decades leading up to the establishment of THRO in 1947. Paleontologists occasionally collected and described fossil specimens from the park over the next few decades, but the true extent of paleontological resources was not realized until a joint North Dakota Geological Survey–NPS investigation under John Hoganson and Johnathan Campbell between 1994–1996. This survey uncovered 400 paleontological localities within the park representing a variety of plant, invertebrate, vertebrate, and trace fossils. Limited investigation and occasional collection of noteworthy specimens took place over the next two decades. In 2020, a new two-year initiative to further document the park’s paleontological resources began. This inventory, which was the basis for this report, identified another 158 fossil localities, some yielding taxa not recorded by the previous survey. Additional specimens were collected from the surface, among them a partial skeleton of a choristodere (an extinct aquatic reptile), dental material of two mammal taxa not previously recorded at THRO, and the first bird track found at the park. The inventory also provided an assessment of an area scheduled for ground-disturbing maintenance. This inventory is intended to inform future paleontological resource research, management, protection, and interpretation at THRO. THRO’s bedrock geology is dominated by two Paleocene rock formations: the Bullion Creek Formation and the overlying Sentinel Butte Formation of the Fort Union Group. Weathering of these formations has produced the distinctive banded badlands seen in THRO today. These two formations were deposited under very different conditions than the current conditions of western North Dakota. In the Paleocene, the region was warm and wet, with a landscape dominated by swamps, lakes, and rivers. Great forests now represented by petrified wood grew throughout the area. Freshwater mollusks, fish, amphibians (including giant salamanders), turtles, choristoderes, and crocodilians abounded in the ancient wetlands, while a variety of mammals representing either extinct lineages or the early forebearers of modern groups inhabited the land. There is little representation of the next 56 million years at THRO. The only evidence we have of events in the park for most of these millions of years is isolated Neogene lag deposits and terrace gravel. Quaternary surficial deposits have yielded a few fossils...