FEMALE MACROCONCH

This sweet beauty with lovely colouring is a Hoploscaphites nebrascensis (Owen, 1852) macroconch. This is the female form of the ammonite that has a larger shell than the male, or microconch.

Hoploscaphites nebrascensis is an upper Maastrichtian species and index fossil. It marks the top of ammonite zonation for the Western Interior. This species has been recorded from Fox Hills Formation in North and South Dakota as well as the Pierre Shale in southeastern South Dakota and northeastern Nebraska.

It is unknown from Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado due to the deposition of coeval terrestrial units. It has possibly been recorded in glacial deposits in Saskatchewan and northern North Dakota, but that is hearsay. Outside the Western Interior, this species has been found in Maryland and possibly Texas in the Discoscaphites Conrad zone. This lovely one is in the collection of the deeply awesome (and enviable) José Juárez Ruiz. A big thank you to Joshua DrSlattmaster J Slattery for his insights on this species.

BERLIN-ICHTHYOSAUR STATE PARK

URSUS CURIOUS

A young Black Bear cub, Ursus americanus, checking out the view from a tree branch. His mamma is likely very near by as they keep an eye on the cubs, helping to feed, dry and protect them from danger.

Full grown, this fuzzy fellow will be able to run 48 kilometres or 30 miles an hour. They like to swim and hunt for fish, berries and roots. They will also dine on insects, deer, moose and whatever they can scavenge in the forest. 

We are blessed to have them living amongst us today on the rugged west coast of British Columbia. 

In the Kwak'wala language of the Kwakiutl First Nations of the Pacific Northwest, this little cutie is t̕ła'yi — a lovely, playful black bear.

ANCIENT TOMB