Monday 6 March 2017
Friday 3 March 2017
METASEQUOIA
Thursday 23 February 2017
TACHYGLOSSIDAE — MONOTREMES
Echidnas are sometimes called spiny anteaters and belong in the family Tachyglossidae (Gill, 1872). They are monotremes, an order of egg-laying mammals. There are four species of echidnas living today. They, along with the platypus, are the only living mammals who lay eggs and the only surviving members of the order Monotremata.
Superficially, they resemble the anteaters of South America and other spiny mammals like porcupines and adorable hedgehogs. They are usually a mix of brown, black and cream in colour. While rare, there have been several reported cases of albino echidnas, their eyes pink and their spines white. Echidnas have long, slender snouts that act as both nose and mouth for these cuties. The Giant Echidna we see in the fossil record had beaks more than double this size.
Wednesday 22 February 2017
Monday 13 February 2017
Saturday 11 February 2017
Thursday 9 February 2017
Tuesday 7 February 2017
Monday 6 February 2017
Sunday 5 February 2017
Friday 3 February 2017
Thursday 2 February 2017
IN SEARCH OF TRIASSIC BEASTIES
Well, if finds like Shonisaurus sikanniensis are any indication, my guess would be northern British Columbia.
After almost no large finds over the past hundred years, they have revealed the largest marine reptile on record, along with countless terrestrial finds that make that area one of the richest searching grounds on the globe.
There are Triassic marine outcrops in northern British Columbia that extend from Wapiti Lake to the Yukon border. Without the fossil finds, this area is just pure, raw Canadian gold in terms of scenery and environmental importance. Well worth exploring for its sheer beauty.
With the paleontological possibilities, it's the stuff of dreams. The big reveal may be new species of dinosaurs, large marine reptiles and greater insight into their behaviour and interactions deep in the Triassic.
I'm excited for the future of paleontology in the region as more of these fruitful outcrops are discovered, collected and studied.
Wednesday 1 February 2017
Thursday 26 January 2017
MIDDLE TRIASSIC-ANISIAN AMMONOID
EOCENE LOVE BUG
This is a Fossil Love Bug, one of the most satisfying fossils to collect in the Eocene deposits of Princeton, British Columbia.
Love Bugs or March Flies are hardy, medium-sized flies in the Order Diptera, with a body length ranging from 4.0 to 10.0 mm. The body is black, brown, or rusty, and thickset, with thick legs. The antennae are moniliform. The front tibiae bear large strong spurs or a circlet of spines. The tarsi are five-segmented and bear tarsal claws, pulvilli, and a well-developed empodium.
As it is with many species, these guys included, the teens of this species are troublesome but the adults turn out alright. As larvae, Bibionidae are pests of agricultural crops, devouring all those tasty young seedlings you've just planted.
Then, as they mature their tastes turn to the nectar of flowers from fruit trees and la voila, they become your best friends again. With their physical and behavioral transformation complete, Bibionidae become a welcome garden visitor, pulling their weight in the ecosystems they live in by being important pollinators.
Monday 16 January 2017
AMMONITE CRUSHED BY PREDATOR
One of the natural predators to ammonites were the marine reptiles, particularly mosasaurs and elasmosaurs.
Mosasaurs, while robust predators, lived nearer to the ocean surface, preying on fish, turtles, birds, and sadly for this fellow, ammonites.
Ammonites were also prey to the elasmosaurs, a genus of plesiosaur that lived in the Late Cretaceous. With their long necks, the could move unseen in the depths then chomp down with their cage-like teeth to munch on fish and those unfortunate enough to be the tasty bounty of ancient times.
Sunday 15 January 2017
Saturday 14 January 2017
Thursday 12 January 2017
Tuesday 10 January 2017
FLORISSANTIA SP. (STERCULIACEAE)
Florissantia, an extinct genus in the Cocoa Tree Family |
This specimen is from the Allenby Formation, which is predominately fine-grained shales and mudrocks. Florissantia are quite commonly found here alongside other plant remains and rarer, insect and fish fossils.