DOCSLIB.ORG

Taphonomy of Late Jurassic (Tithonian) Morrison Formation Apatosaurus Sp. Vertebrae Found Associated with Teeth from Allosaurus Sp

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Taphonomy of Late Jurassic (Tithonian) Morrison Formation Apatosaurus Sp. Vertebrae Found Associated with Teeth from Allosaurus Sp Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Plan B and other Reports Graduate Studies 5-2021 Taphonomy of Late Jurassic (Tithonian) Morrison Formation Apatosaurus sp. Vertebrae Found Associated with Teeth from Allosaurus sp. and Ceratosaurus sp., and Body Size Extrapolation from the Associated Theropod Teeth. Greg C. Agyan Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/gradreports Part of the Behavior and Ethology Commons, Geology Commons, Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, Paleobiology Commons, Paleontology Commons, Sedimentology Commons, and the Stratigraphy Commons Recommended Citation Agyan, Greg C., "Taphonomy of Late Jurassic (Tithonian) Morrison Formation Apatosaurus sp. Vertebrae Found Associated with Teeth from Allosaurus sp. and Ceratosaurus sp., and Body Size Extrapolation from the Associated Theropod Teeth." (2021). All Graduate Plan B and other Reports. 1541. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/gradreports/1541 This Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Plan B and other Reports by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Taphonomy of Late Jurassic (Tithonian) Morrison Formation Apatosaurus sp. vertebrae found associated with teeth from Allosaurus sp. and Ceratosaurus sp., and body size extrapolation from the associated theropod teeth. _______________ A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Department of Geological Sciences Utah State University _________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters of Science In Applied Environmental Geoscience ________________ By Gregory Christian Agyan Spring 2021 _______________ Dr. Benjamin Burger Advisor Table of Contents General Audience Abstract ........................................................................................................................ 3 Abstract ..................................................................................................................................................... 3-5 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 5-6 2. Purpose of Study ................................................................................................................................... 6 3. Materials and Methods ................................................................................................................... 7-12 3.1 Taphonomy Analysis Methods ...................................................................................................... 7 3.2 Theropod Size Estimation Methods ........................................................................................ 7-12 3.2.1 Allosaurus Size Estimation ................................................................................................ 9-11 3.2.1.1 DNM-15 Allo 1 ......................................................................................................... 9-10 3.2.1.2 DNM-15 Allo 2 ....................................................................................................... 10-11 3.2.2 Ceratosaurus Size Estimation .......................................................................................... 11-12 3.2.2.1 DNM-15 Cerato ........................................................................................................... 12 4. Geologic/ Regional Setting ............................................................................................................ 12-14 4.1 Paleoclimatology of the Morrison Formation ....................................................................... 12-14 4.2 Geology of Dinosaur National Monument’s Carnegie Quarry ................................................ 14 5. Results of the Sauropod Locality Analysis .................................................................................. 15-19 5.1 Field Observations of the Locality ......................................................................................... 15-16 5.2 Thin Section Analysis .............................................................................................................. 16-18 5.2.1 Composition of the Locality Thin Sections ....................................................................... 16-17 5.2.2 Comparison of Locality Thin Sections to the Carnegie Quarry ....................................... 17-18 5.3 Interpretation of the Environment of Deposition ................................................................. 18-19 6. Taphonomy of Locality DNM-15 ................................................................................................. 19-24 6.1 Sauropod Taphonomy ............................................................................................................. 19-21 6.1.1 Apatosaurus Bone Orientation .......................................................................................... 19-21 6.1.2 Possible Cause of Apatosaurus Death............................................................................... 21-22 6.2 Theropod Tooth Taphonomy ................................................................................................. 22-23 6.2.1 Transportability of the Teeth ............................................................................................. 22-23 6.2.2 Possible Cause of Tooth Shedding and Preservation ....................................................... 23-24 7. Size Estimation Results From Shed Allosaurus Teeth ............................................................... 25-26 7.1 DNM-15 Allo 1 Results ................................................................................................................. 25 Page | 1 7.2 DNM-15 Allo 2 Results ............................................................................................................ 25-26 8. Size Estimation Results From Shed Ceratosaurus Tooth .......................................................... 26-27 9. Discussion ....................................................................................................................................... 27-29 9.1 Allosaurus Size Estimation Assumptions ............................................................................... 28-29 9.2 Allosaurus Size Estimation Limitations ..................................................................................... 29 9.3 Ceratosaurus Size Estimation Assumptions ......................................................................... 29-30 9.4 Ceratosaurus Size Estimation Limitations ................................................................................. 30 10. Conclusions .................................................................................................................................... 30-32 Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................. 32-33 Figures and Tables ............................................................................................................................... 33-58 References ............................................................................................................................................. 59-61 Appendix (Measurements) ................................................................................................................. 61-66 Page | 2 General Audience Abstract A row of tail vertebrae from the long-necked dinosaur Apatosaurus was discovered from within Dinosaur National Monument in 1985. Buried within the tail vertebrae were three teeth from carnivorous dinosaurs. Two of the teeth were identified from Allosaurus and the third was from a carnivore with a distinctive nasal crest called Ceratosaurus. This study sought to determine how the Apatosaurus bones and carnivore teeth became associated, and to decipher the probable cause of the long-necked herbivore’s death. The bones and teeth were shown to have been preserved in a river channel deposit, but were unlikely to have been transported any great distance before burial. Dinosaur National Monument was likely prone to drought conditions during the Late Jurassic, and the Apatosaurus would have likely died as a result of the adverse conditions combined with its possible old age. The results of this study imply that the teeth were present among the Apatosaurus bones as a result of scavenging. The three teeth were shed during feeding, as they lack roots. The skull and body lengths of these individual carnivorous dinosaurs were estimated using mathematical formulas determined from skull and skeletal measurements of known specimens in museums. Based on the size of the Allosaurus teeth, these scavenging dinosaurs had an average skull length of about 80 cm and body length of 7 meters, while the Ceratosaurus tooth indicated a very large carnivorous dinosaur with an average skull length of about 1 meter and a body length of about 8.7 meters. Abstract An Apatosaurus sp. locality from Dinosaur National Monument designated DNM-15 was excavated in 1985, and associated with two Allosaurus teeth and one Ceratosaurus tooth that were near one of the caudal vertebrae. The Ceratosaurus tooth was buried between an overlying Page | 3 rib and that same caudal vertebra. The caudal vertebrae of the DNM-15 Apatosaurus were intact and articulated,
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Fused and Vaulted Nasals of Tyrannosaurid Dinosaurs: Implications for Cranial Strength and Feeding Mechanics
    Fused and vaulted nasals of tyrannosaurid dinosaurs: Implications for cranial strength and feeding mechanics ERIC SNIVELY, DONALD M. HENDERSON, and DOUG S. PHILLIPS Snively, E., Henderson, D.M., and Phillips, D.S. 2006. Fused and vaulted nasals of tyrannosaurid dinosaurs: Implications for cranial strength and feeding mechanics. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 51 (3): 435–454. Tyrannosaurid theropods display several unusual adaptations of the skulls and teeth. Their nasals are fused and vaulted, suggesting that these elements braced the cranium against high feeding forces. Exceptionally high strengths of maxillary teeth in Tyrannosaurus rex indicate that it could exert relatively greater feeding forces than other tyrannosaurids. Areas and second moments of area of the nasals, calculated from CT cross−sections, show higher nasal strengths for large tyrannosaurids than for Allosaurus fragilis. Cross−sectional geometry of theropod crania reveals high second moments of area in tyrannosaurids, with resulting high strengths in bending and torsion, when compared with the crania of similarly sized theropods. In tyrannosaurids trends of strength increase are positively allomeric and have similar allometric expo− nents, indicating correlated progression towards unusually high strengths of the feeding apparatus. Fused, arched nasals and broad crania of tyrannosaurids are consistent with deep bites that impacted bone and powerful lateral movements of the head for dismembering prey. Key words: Theropoda, Carnosauria, Tyrannosauridae, biomechanics, feeding mechanics, computer modeling, com− puted tomography. Eric Snively [[email protected]], Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada; Donald M. Henderson [[email protected]], Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, Box 7500, Drumheller, Alberta T0J 0Y0, Canada; Doug S.
    [Show full text]
  • The Jackpile Sandstone Member of the Morrison Formation in West
    TheJackpile Sandstone Member 0f the MorrisonFormation in west-central New Mexico- a formaldefinition byDonald E. jwen,Consulting Geologist, Tulsa, 0K 74152,and Lester J. Walters,Jr. andRonald G. Beck, ARCO Oil and Gas Co., Dallas, IX75221 The JackpileSandstone Member of the uranium mine. The JackpileSandstone is stonelenses Contactswith the underlying Morrison Formation(Upper Jurassic)in west- typically a whitish, crossbeddedsubarkose Brushy BasinMember of the Morrison For- central New Mexico is named here formallv with clay matrix and interbedded, varie- mation may be gradational, scoured, or from a stratotype near the Jackpile-PaguatL gated, pale-greento red, bentonitic mud- interbedded. The Jackpileextends only a short distancesouth of the stratotvDedue R.5W. to truncation along the basal Dakota un- conformity. However, it extendsnortheast to Lamy, north to near Cuba, and a short distancewest and a longer distancenorth- west into the subsurfaceof the San Juan Basin.Thickness of the Jackpileranges from near zero to 300ft (91 m); at the stratotype it is 100 ft (30 m) thick. Crossbeddingin- dicatesa regional easterlypaleocurrent-flow direction for the braided-streamand distal alluvial-fan complexesin which the Jackpile was deposited. Source areas were to the west and southwest,south of Gallup, and in the Mogollon Highlands. Introduction The Jackpile sandstone of economic usage has been employed informally in strati- graphic nomenclature for a distinctive bed in the uppermost part of the Brushy Basin Member of the Morrison Formation in west- central New Mexico since the Jackpile ura- nium body was discovered in that bed dur- ing 1951.The stratigraphic name fackpile has Alsoin this issue Temperatureof.mineralization in Mogollonmining district p.
    [Show full text]
  • By HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN and CHARL
    VoL. 6, 1920 PALAEONTOLOGY: OSBORN AND MOOK IS RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SKELETON OF THE SAUROPOD DINOSAUR CAMARASA URUS COPE (MOROSA URUS MARSH) By HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN AND CHARLES CRAIG MOOK AMERICAN MusEUM or NATURAL HISTORY, NEW YORK CITY Read before the Academy, November 11, 1919 The principles of modern research in vertebrate palaeontology are illustrated in the fifteen years' work resulting in the restoration of the massive sauropod dinosaur known as Camarasaurus, the "chambered saurian.." The animal was found near Canyon City, Colorado, in March, 1877. The first bones were described by Cope, August 23, 1877. The first at- tempted restoration was by Ryder, December 21, 1877. The bones analyzed by this research were found probably to belong to six individuals of Camarasaurus mingled with the remains of some carnivorous dinosaurs, all from the summit of the Morrison formation, now regarded as of Jurassic- Cretaceous age. In these two quarries Cope named nine new genera and fourteen new species of dinosaurs, none of which have found their way into. palaeontologic literature, excepting Camarasaurus. Out of these twenty-three names we unravel three genera, namely: One species of Camarasaurus, identical with Morosaurus Marsh. One species of Amphicaclias, close to Diplodocus Marsh. One species of Epanterias, close to Allosaurus Marsh. The working out of the Camarasaurus skeleton results in both the artica ulated restoration and the restoration of the musculature. The following are the principal characters: The neck is very flexible; anterior vertebrae of the back also freely movable; the division between the latter and the relatively rigid posterior dorsals is sharp.
    [Show full text]
  • Rule Booklet
    Dig for fossils, build skeletons, and attract the most visitors to your museum! TM SCAN FOR VIDEO RULES AND MORE! FOSSILCANYON.COM Dinosaurs of North America edimentary rock formations of western North America are famous for the fossilized remains of dinosaurs The rules are simple enough for young players, but and other animals from the Triassic, Jurassic, and serious players can benefit Cretaceous periods of the Mesozoic Era. Your objective from keeping track of the cards that is to dig up fossils, build complete skeletons, and display have appeared, reasoning about them in your museum to attract as many visitors as possible. probabilities and expected returns, and choosing between aggressive Watch your museum’s popularity grow using jigsaw-puzzle and conservative plays. scoring that turns the competition into a race! GAME CONTENTS TM 200,000300,000 160,000 VISITORS VISITORS PER YEAR 140,000 VISITORS PER YEAR 180,000 VISITORS PER YEAR 400,000 VISITORS PER YEAR Dig for fossils, build skeletons, and 340,000 VISITORS PER YEAR RD COLOR ELETONS CA GENUS PERIODDIET SK FOSSIL VISITORSPARTS 360,000 VISITORS PER YEAR PER YEAR attract the most visitors to your museum! VISITORS PER YEAR PER YEAR Tyrannosaurus K C 1 4 500,000 Brachiosaurus J H 1 3 400,000 ON YOUR TURN: TM SCAN FOR VIDEO Triceratops K H 1 3 380,000 RULES AND MORE! Allosaurus J C 2 Dig3 a first360,000 card. If it is a fossil, keep it hidden. FOSSILCANYON.COM Ankylosaurus K H 2 If it3 is an340,000 action card, perform the action.
    [Show full text]
  • Xjiiie'icanj/Useum
    XJiiie'ican1ox4tatreJ/useum PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY CENTRAL PARK WEST AT 79TH STREET, NEW YORK 24, N.Y. NUMBER 2I8I JUNE 4, I964 Relationships of the Saurischian Dinosaurs BY EDWIN H. COLBERT1 INTRODUCTION The word "Dinosauria" was coined by Sir Richard Owen in 1842 as a designation for various genera and species of extinct reptiles, the fossil bones of which were then being discovered and described in Europe. For many years this term persisted as the name for one order of reptiles and thus became well intrenched within the literature of paleontology. In- deed, since this name was associated with fossil remains that are frequently of large dimensions and spectacular shape and therefore of considerable interest to the general public, it in time became Anglicized, to take its proper place as a common noun in the English language. Almost every- body in the world is today more or less familiar with dinosaurs. As long ago as 1888, H. G. Seeley recognized the fact that the dino- saurs are not contained within a single reptilian order, but rather are quite clearly members of two distinct orders, each of which can be de- fined on the basis of many osteological characters. The structure of the pelvis is particularly useful in the separation of the two dinosaurian orders, and consequently Seeley named these two major taxonomic categories the Saurischia and the Ornithischia. This astute observation by Seeley was not readily accepted, so that for many years following the publication of his original paper proposing the basic dichotomy of the dinosaurs the 1 Chairman and Curator, Department ofVertebrate Paleontology, the American Museum of Natural History.
    [Show full text]
  • Implications for Predatory Dinosaur Macroecology and Ontogeny in Later Late Cretaceous Asiamerica
    Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences Theropod Guild Structure and the Tyrannosaurid Niche Assimilation Hypothesis: Implications for Predatory Dinosaur Macroecology and Ontogeny in later Late Cretaceous Asiamerica Journal: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences Manuscript ID cjes-2020-0174.R1 Manuscript Type: Article Date Submitted by the 04-Jan-2021 Author: Complete List of Authors: Holtz, Thomas; University of Maryland at College Park, Department of Geology; NationalDraft Museum of Natural History, Department of Geology Keyword: Dinosaur, Ontogeny, Theropod, Paleocology, Mesozoic, Tyrannosauridae Is the invited manuscript for consideration in a Special Tribute to Dale Russell Issue? : © The Author(s) or their Institution(s) Page 1 of 91 Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 1 Theropod Guild Structure and the Tyrannosaurid Niche Assimilation Hypothesis: 2 Implications for Predatory Dinosaur Macroecology and Ontogeny in later Late Cretaceous 3 Asiamerica 4 5 6 Thomas R. Holtz, Jr. 7 8 Department of Geology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 USA 9 Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC 20013 USA 10 Email address: [email protected] 11 ORCID: 0000-0002-2906-4900 Draft 12 13 Thomas R. Holtz, Jr. 14 Department of Geology 15 8000 Regents Drive 16 University of Maryland 17 College Park, MD 20742 18 USA 19 Phone: 1-301-405-4084 20 Fax: 1-301-314-9661 21 Email address: [email protected] 22 23 1 © The Author(s) or their Institution(s) Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences Page 2 of 91 24 ABSTRACT 25 Well-sampled dinosaur communities from the Jurassic through the early Late Cretaceous show 26 greater taxonomic diversity among larger (>50kg) theropod taxa than communities of the 27 Campano-Maastrichtian, particularly to those of eastern/central Asia and Laramidia.
    [Show full text]
  • Stratigraphic Correlation Chart for Western Colorado and Northwestern New Mexico
    New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook, 32nd Field Conference, Western Slope Colorado, 1981 75 STRATIGRAPHIC CORRELATION CHART FOR WESTERN COLORADO AND NORTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO M. E. MacLACHLAN U.S. Geological Survey Denver, Colorado 80225 INTRODUCTION De Chelly Sandstone (or De Chelly Sandstone Member of the The stratigraphic nomenclature applied in various parts of west- Cutler Formation) of the west side of the basin is thought to ern Colorado, northwestern New Mexico, and a small part of east- correlate with the Glorieta Sandstone of the south side of the central Utah is summarized in the accompanying chart (fig. 1). The basin. locations of the areas, indicated by letters, are shown on the index map (fig. 2). Sources of information used in compiling the chart are Cols. B.-C. shown by numbers in brackets beneath the headings for the col- Age determinations on the Hinsdale Formation in parts of the umns. The numbers are keyed to references in an accompanying volcanic field range from 4.7 to 23.4 m.y. on basalts and 4.8 to list. Ages where known are shown by numbers in parentheses in 22.4 m.y. on rhyolites (Lipman, 1975, p. 6, p. 90-100). millions of years after the rock name or in parentheses on the line The early intermediate-composition volcanics and related rocks separating two chronostratigraphic units. include several named units of limited areal extent, but of simi- No Quaternary rocks nor small igneous bodies, such as dikes, lar age and petrology—the West Elk Breccia at Powderhorn; the have been included on this chart.
    [Show full text]
  • Paleopathological Analysis of a Sub-Adult Allosaurus Fragilis (MOR
    Paleopathological analysis of a sub-adult Allosaurus fragilis (MOR 693) from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation with multiple injuries and infections by Rebecca Rochelle Laws A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Earth Sciences Montana State University © Copyright by Rebecca Rochelle Laws (1996) Abstract: A sub-adult Allosaurus fragilis (Museum of the Rockies specimen number 693 or MOR 693; "Big Al") with nineteen abnormal skeletal elements was discovered in 1991 in the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation in Big Horn County, Wyoming at what became known as the "Big Al" site. This site is 300 meters northeast of the Howe Quarry, excavated in 1934 by Barnum Brown. The opisthotonic position of the allosaur indicated that rigor mortis occurred before burial. Although the skeleton was found within a fluvially-deposited sandstone, the presence of mud chips in the sandstone matrix and virtual completeness of the skeleton showed that the skeleton was not transported very far, if at all. The specific goals of this study are to: 1) provide a complete description and analysis of the abnormal bones of the sub-adult, male, A. fragilis, 2) develop a better understanding of how the bones of this allosaur reacted to infection and trauma, and 3) contribute to the pathological bone database so that future comparative studies are possible, and the hypothesis that certain abnormalities characterize taxa may be evaluated. The morphology of each of the 19 abnormal bones is described and each disfigurement is classified as to its cause: 5 trauma-induced; 2 infection-induced; 1 trauma- and infection-induced; 4 trauma-induced or aberrant, specific origin unknown; 4 aberrant; and 3 aberrant, specific origin unknown.
    [Show full text]
  • Science WORK PACK SCIENCE
    SCIENCE SPECIFIC TOPICS FOR KEY STAGE 2 AGED 7 - 11 IN YEAR GROUPS 3 - 6 DINOSAURS science WORK PACK SCIENCE NOTES FOR TEACHERS SCIENCE-SPECIFIC TOPICS FOR KS2 CHILDREN AGED 7-11 IN YEAR GROUPS 3-6 Life Processes and Living Things G variation and classification G life processes G living things in their environment Mathematics / numeracy G arithmetic - addition G reasoning English / literacy G vocabulary extension General: The worksheets require: G observational skills G reading skills G arithmatic skills G The pupils need to apply some prior knowledge, but all the information required is on the sheets, posters or the actual exhibit, facilitating use on site or at school. G Specifically from the Dinosaur Family Tree worksheet, they will learn that organisms can be classified on the basis of their similarities, and that elementary arithmatic can be used to support (through quantification) observational (qualative) classification schemes. G Like with human families, family trees can be constructed over time periods.The Family Tree worksheet enables the children to place fifteen well known dinosaurs into a simplified Dinosaur Family Tree, by identifying (numerically) which line each individual sits on, and using the date given, its position on that line. G The tree also introduces the concept of geological time, and the large numbers used in its construction. Additionally, they will notice that geological time is divided and names given to those divisions. G The work can be extended, some children will notice that four distinct groupings of dinosaurs are formed as time blocks (Triassic, Late Jurassic, Early Cretaceous and Late Cretaceous).
    [Show full text]
  • The Pelvic and Hind Limb Anatomy of the Stem-Sauropodomorph Saturnalia Tupiniquim (Late Triassic, Brazil)
    PaleoBios 23(2):1–30, July 15, 2003 © 2003 University of California Museum of Paleontology The pelvic and hind limb anatomy of the stem-sauropodomorph Saturnalia tupiniquim (Late Triassic, Brazil) MAX CARDOSO LANGER Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road, BS8 1RJ Bristol, UK. Current address: Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900 14040-901 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; [email protected] Three partial skeletons allow a nearly complete description of the sacrum, pelvic girdle, and hind limb of the stem- sauropodomorph Saturnalia tupiniquim, from the Late Triassic Santa Maria Formation, South Brazil. The new morphological data gathered from these specimens considerably improves our knowledge of the anatomy of basal dinosaurs, providing the basis for a reassessment of various morphological transformations that occurred in the early evolution of these reptiles. These include an increase in the number of sacral vertebrae, the development of a brevis fossa, the perforation of the acetabulum, the inturning of the femoral head, as well as various modifications in the insertion of the iliofemoral musculature and the tibio-tarsal articulation. In addition, the reconstruction of the pelvic musculature of Saturnalia, along with a study of its locomotion pattern, indicates that the hind limb of early dinosaurs did not perform only a fore-and-aft stiff rotation in the parasagittal plane, but that lateral and medial movements of the leg were also present and important. INTRODUCTION sisting of most of the presacral vertebral series, both sides Saturnalia tupiniquim was described in a preliminary of the pectoral girdle, right humerus, partial right ulna, right fashion by Langer et al.
    [Show full text]
  • The Fighting Pair
    THE FIGHTING PAIR ALLOSAURUS VS STEGOSAURUS — Allosaurus “jimmadsoni” and Hesperosaurus (Stegosaurus) mjosi Upper Jurassic Period, Kimmeridgian Stage, 155 million years old Morrison Formation Dana Quarry, Ten Sleep, Washakie County, Wyoming, USA. THE ALLOSAURUS The Official State Fossil of Utah, the Allosaurus was a large theropod carnosaur of the “bird-hipped” Saurischia order that flourished primarily in North America during the Upper Jurassic Period, 155-145 million years In the spring of 2007, at the newly-investigated Dana Quarry in the Morrison Formation of Wyoming, the team from ago. Long recognized in popular culture, it bears the distinction of being Dinosauria International LLC made an exciting discovery: the beautifully preserved femur of the giant carnivorous one of the first dinosaurs to be depicted on the silver screen, the apex Allosaur. As they kept digging, their excitement grew greater; next came toe bones, leg bones, ribs, vertebrae and predator of the 1912 novel and 1925 cinema adaptation of Conan Doyle’s finally a skull: complete, undistorted and, remarkably, with full dentition. It was an incredible find; one of the most The Lost World. classic dinosaurs, virtually complete, articulated and in beautiful condition. But that was not all. When the team got The Allosaurus possessed a large head on a short neck, a broad rib-cage the field jackets back to the preparation lab, they discovered another leg bone beneath the Allosaurus skull… There creating a barrel chest, small three-fingered forelimbs, large powerful hind limbs with hoof-like feet, and a long heavy tail to act as a counter-balance. was another dinosaur in the 150 million year-old rock.
    [Show full text]
  • Reference Site Taphofacies Lithology Paleontology Weathering Transport
    Reference Site Taphofacies Lithology Paleontology Weathering Transport Groups Allosaurus Ceratosaurus Torvosaurus Small Theropod Camarosaurus Apatosaurus Barasaurus Diplodocus Haplocathosaurus Brachyosaurus Mymo Stegosaurus Dryosaurus Heterodontosaurus Camptosaurus Pterosaurus Crocodiles Turtle Frogs Fish Lizards Sphenodont Mammals Snails Unionids coarse grained sand- articulated partial conglomerate, trough skeletons, associated cross-bedding, fining by largegly Kirkland, 2006 FPA Channel sandstone upward sequences disarticulated X X X X X X X fine to coarse sand with mud and carbonate clasts, Mass accumulations, Dodson, 1980 Bone Cabin Quarry Channel sandstone common, poorly to mostly disarticulated X X X X X X X X X X fine to coarse sand with mud and carbonate clasts, Mass accumulations, Dodson, 1980 Quarry 13 Channel sandstone common, poorly to mostly disarticulated X X X X X X fine to coarse sand with mud and Mass accumulation, I - 17; II - 30; III - 60; carbonate clasts, mixed high to low scrap -37 (Layton Dodson, 1980 Dinosaur NM Channel sandstone common, poorly to articulation 0-1 (Fiorillo, 1994) (1977) X X X X X X X X X X fine to coarse sand with mud and Mass accumulation, I - 1205, II - 712, III - carbonate clasts, mixed high to low 279 (Richmond and Richmond and Morrison,Dry 1998 Mesa Channel sandstone common, poorly to articulation Morrison) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X fine to coarse sand with mud and carbonate clasts, Mass accumulation, Evanoff and Carpenter, Felch1998 Quarry 1 Channel sandstone common, poorly to mostly
    [Show full text]