American Geosciences Institute’s Post

🌍 Discover the Paleontological Research Institution, an AGI Member Society, which pursues and integrates #paleontology education and research, and interprets the history and systems of the Earth and its life to increase knowledge, educate society, and encourage wise stewardship of the Earth: https://lnkd.in/dpMwVY5H

🌍 Discover the Paleontological Research Institution, an AGI Member Society, which pursues and integrates #paleontology education and research, and interprets the history and systems of the Earth and its life to increase knowledge, educate society, and encourage wise stewardship of the Earth: https://lnkd.in/dCXRyrnu

🌍 Discover the Paleontological Research Institution, an AGI Member Society, which pursues and integrates #paleontology education and research, and interprets the history and systems of the Earth and its life to increase knowledge, educate society, and encourage wise stewardship of the Earth: https://lnkd.in/dCXRyrnu

Pacific Paleontology was recently called out to one of our paleo mitigation contract sites with the message that "bones have been found"!!  We excitedly arrived only to find this!  Neither paleontological nor archeological these bones, which were inadvertently moved from their original positions by the construction crew, are from a modern (Recent) Mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus and so not of historical importance for our team.  #paleontology, #SantaCruz, #santacruzcounty, #Monterey, #montereycounty, #paleontology, #mitigationpaleontology, #fossil, #pacificpaleontology, @pacificpaleontology, #Constructionsite, #fossilhunting, #archeology, #bones,

The ongoing excavation of the fossilized crocodile, Borealosuchus wilsoni, within the green river formation has been truly captivating. Over the past three thousand hours of meticulous uncovering, a remarkable narrative has unfolded before our eyes. Evidence of predation marks scattered across the head and body of the crocodile paints a vivid picture of a fierce attack. However, the story doesn't end there. In a surprising turn, we stumbled upon acid-etched bone fragments nestled within its abdomen, unmistakably belonging to a Trionyx Freshwater turtle. It appears that prior to its demise, this specimen spent some time reclining on a beach, as indicated by the discovery of sand and foliage within its belly. The unveiling of such unprecedented findings within the ecosystem of the green river formation fills us with anticipation for the scientific insights yet to come. With completion merely months away, we toast to the exciting new discoveries awaiting us in the realm of paleontology. This is the essence of our passion for what we do. #lizard #crocodile #crocodilian #crocodiles #crocodilehunter #paleontology #paleontological #moretocome #wy #greenriverformation ##naturalhistory #evolution #geologist #fossil #formation #focus #fossilpreparation #reptile ##mindblown #mega

“From the Ancient Sea, to the Rock, to the Lab, and Onward to the Museum” This is WT967; the extinct sand dollar Dendraster ashleyi (Arnold, 1907) or Dendraster gibbsii (Rémond, 1863).  Discovered in May 2024 embedded in its 5 million year old sandy seafloor tomb, now turned to stone on a Santa Cruz beach, this specimen has been prepared and is on on its way to the Department of Invertebrate Geology at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco as a small component of our scientific research into the paleontology and evolution of life in the ancient Monterey Bay.  We are additionally examining the Pliocene current-protected sediments from under these ancient sand dollars for microscopic fossilized plankton called foraminifera to help us refine the age and environments that these faunas represent.  Very exciting ongoing research happening here at Pacific Paleontology Labs. #Paleontologist, #paleontology,  #SantaCruz, #Monterey, #santacruzcounty, #pacificpaleontology, @pacificpaleontology, #beachfossils, #fossil, #fossilhunting, #fieldwork, #beachcombing, #santacruzmuseum, #MontereyBay, #SCMNH, #universityofcaliforniamuseumofpaleontology, #UCMP, #californiaacademyofscience, #academyofscience,  #ucmpberkeley,

I'm excited to share a glimpse into the process of preparing smear slides for calcareous nannofossils. These microscopic fossils, composed of calcium carbonate, provide invaluable insights into ancient marine environments and climate conditions. The preparation process involves: 1. Spreading a thin layer of the sample onto a glass slide. 2. Drying the sample at 50°C—this controlled drying method ensures that the delicate structures of the nannofossils are preserved for clear observation under the microscope. 3. Optional staining to highlight key features. Accurate sample preparation is critical in paleontology, where every detail helps unlock the history stored in these fossils. If you're working with microscopic fossils, perfecting your smear slide technique is a must! #Micropaleontology #CalcareousNannofossils #SmearSlide #SamplePreparation #LabSkills #Paleoclimate #Research

🌍 Exciting news from the world of paleontology! New cynodont fossil discoveries are challenging our understanding of mammal evolution and shedding light on our ancient ancestors. 🦴✨ Dive into this groundbreaking study and discover how our history is being rewritten! Read more here: https://buff.ly/3BgwFgf #Paleontology #Fossils #MammalEvolution #ScienceNews #Discoveries #AncientHistory 👉 For your daily dose of positive updates, subscribe to the good news newsletter at https://buff.ly/4cK4yUh!

I taught about austalopithecines in so many of my anthropology courses. Once, I even taught a 2-year old how to pronounce it. And walking toddlers the importance of a locking knee joint and location of the foramen magnum. Of course I shared this with my college students! They learned too, quickly, how to pronounce it. Hopefully the other stuff too.😁 Still, one of my favorite topics. #Lucy #australopithecines #anthropology

#DidYouKnow Arthropleura was an enormous millipede-like arthropod that roamed the Earth during the Carboniferous period, roughly 300 million years ago. It’s considered one of the largest land-dwelling arthropods ever discovered, reaching lengths of up to 2.5 meters (about 8 feet). The Carboniferous period, with its high oxygen levels and lush vegetation, created a perfect environment for these gigantic invertebrates. Their size was likely an adaptation to the oxygen-rich atmosphere of the time. https://lnkd.in/fzpnPPW #Arthropleura #giantmillipede #fossil #extinctcreature #paleontology #prehistoriclife #science #CarboniferousPeriod #ancientarthropods #prehistoriclife #giantinsects #fossildiscovery #Geology #Nature #ancientcreatures #largestlandarthropod #giantarthropod