Goronyosaurus nigeriensis Mosasaur Fossil

Here is a picture of a reconstructed skull of a Goronyosaurus nigeriensis (Swinton et al., 1930) fossil at Museo di Geologia e Paleontologia Florence Italy (Università degli Studi di Firenze) in August 2024.  The creature lived during the Upper Cretaceous Period. It might have been found in Sokoto District, Nigeria Africa.

Ophioderma egertoni

This image is of Ophioderma egertoni (Broderip, 1840) starfish fossil. Its new name is Palaeocoma milleri (Phillips, 1829). This animal existed in the Cretaceous Period. Fossil were found at Mary Anning's fossil hunting grounds: Lyme Regis, England.

Picture taken at Museo di Geologia e Paleontologia Florence Italy (Università degli Studi di Firenze) in August 2019.

Hemiaster heberti Echinoid Fossils

This image is of Hemiaster heberti echinoid fossils. These animals existed in the Cretaceous Period. Fossils were found in Thebaid, Egypt.

Picture taken at Museo di Geologia e Paleontologia Florence Italy (Università degli Studi di Firenze) in August 2019.

20th Anniversary of the Montana Dinosaur Trail

I was happy to see some new paleontology videos appearing on YouTube by Emily Graslie where she visits The Montana Dinosaur Trail. Emily made a name for herself as Chicago's Field Museum's Chief Curiosity Correspondent making videos under the The Brain Scoop name. She followed up with the excellent video series in 2019 called the Prehistoric Road Trip and shown on PBS stations.

The first video takes us to Ekalaka, Montana. A place where the Carter County Museum is located. It was founded in 1936 and was first county museum in the state. It houses fossils found by ranchers and farmers in the area. They have a mounted Edmontosaurus (Lambe, 1917) dinosaur.

Her second video takes us to Makoshika State Park at Glendive, Montana. It is home to at least 10 different dinosaur species found in the Hell Creek Formation of the late Cretaceous Period. Some dinosaur fossils found there are of Edmontosaurus (Lambe, 1917), Ankylosauria (Osborn, 1923), Tyrannosaurus rex (Osborn, 1905), and Triceratops (Marsh, 1889). One geological feature that can be seen in the landscape is the KPG boundary. They have a nice collection of aquatic fossils (turtles, gar scales, crocodile pieces, clams, Mosasaur, Elasmosaur). Another highlight is an exhibit of the 1990s excavation of one of the best preserved Thescelosaurus (Gilmore, 1913) fossils found.

She ends the video at Fort Peck Dam where you can find a restaurant that serves cheesy fried pickles.

For the third video, it highlights the Frontier Gateway Museum (201 State Street, Glendive, Montana). They have a mounted Struthiomimus (Osborn, 1917) dinosaur named Margie. Also Hadrosaurus (Leidy, 1858) fossils are on display. After leaving this museum she visits the Phillips County Museum at Malta, Montana. This museum houses a Brachylophosaurus (Sternberg, 1953) fossil named Elvis. They have a display of Montana agates.

I remember visiting the state as a child with my family and my uncle's family. My aunt was buying moss agate jewelry and I still have a few polished pieces from that trip. The museum also has a meteorite display in which Emile comments "I wonder if the dinosaurs feel a little weird about the meteorites being so close." :)  Another unique display is that of different types of barbed wire from the late 1800s.

Her last video is of a visit to the Great Plain Dinosaur Museum in Malta, Montana. The museum has ammonite fossils from the Western Interior Seaway (77 million years ago) that covered part of modern day Montana. Also found out the museum is display case showing shark teeth fossil from around the United States and fish fossils from the Green River Formation of Wyoming.

I am always looking for natural history museums to visit and now have some new locations to add to my list to visit. Please check out these informative videos about paleontology sites to visit in Montana.

Trigonarca matheroniana Fossil

Trigonarca matheroniana (d'Orbigny, 1844) is a pelecypod fossil. This genus might be known as Arca (Linnaeus, 1758). It existed during the Cretaceous Period (about 120-70 million years ago ). This fossil was found in Uchaux, France. Fossil was on display at Natural History Museum Vienna (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien) (August 2024).

Pterotrigonia vaelsiensis Fossil

Pterotrigonia vaelsiensis (Boehm, 1884) is a pelecypod fossil. It existed during the Cretaceous Period (about 120-70 million years ago ). This fossil was found in Uchaux, France. Fossil was on display at Natural History Museum Vienna (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien) (August 2024).

Pterotrigonia thoracica Fossil

Pterotrigonia thoracica (Morton 1834) pelecypod is the official state fossil of Tennessee. It existed during the Cretaceous Period (about 70 million years ago - Maastrichtian). This fossil was found in Coon Creek, Tennessee USA. Fossil was on display at Natural History Museum Vienna (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien) (August 2024).

Starfish Fossil from Texas

 

Here is a picture of a recently found fossil that appears to be part of starfish . The fossil widest length is approximately 5 mm. It was in the Del Rio Formation at Shoal Creek, Texas USA. This creature existed during the Cretaceous Period. 

Thanks to Kenny for the image.

Nodosaria Foraminifera Fossil

 

Here is a picture of a recently found fossil that appears to be a Nodosaria (Lamarck, 1816) foraminifera. The fossil widest length is approximately 3 mm. It was in the Del Rio Formation at Shoal Creek, Texas USA. This creature existed during the Cretaceous Period. 

Thanks to Kenny for the image.

Anomalina Foraminifera Fossil

 

Here is a picture of a recently found fossil that appears to be an Anomalina (d'Orbigny, 1826) foraminifera. The fossil widest length is approximately 280 microns. It was in the Del Rio Formation at Travis County, Texas USA. This creature existed during the Cretaceous Period. 

Thanks to Kenny for the image.

Globigerina Foraminifera Fossil - Texas

 

Here is a picture of a recently found fossil that appears to be a Globigerina (d'Orbigny, 1826) foraminifera. The fossil widest length is approximately 280 microns. It was at Del Rio Shoal Creek, Texas USA. This creature existed during the Cretaceous Period. 

Thanks to Kenny for the image.

Harpagofututor volsellorhinus Fish Fossil

This image is of a Harpagofututor volsellorhinus (Lund, 1982) eel like fish fossil. The animal existed in the Carboniferous Period. Fossil was discovered in Bear Gulch, Montana, USA. Fossil was on display at the Natural History Museum Vienna (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien) on August 2024.

Illymatogyra arietina Oyster Fossil

Here are some pictures of some recently found oyster fossils. They appear to be an Illymatogyra arietina (Roemer). The fossil was found in the Georgetown Formation of Austin Texas USA. Oysters like these lived in the Cretaceous Period. Thanks to Kenny for the images.

Heteroptera True Bug Fossil

This image is of a Heteroptera  (Latreille, 1810) leaf bug fossil. The insect existed in the early Cretaceous Period. Fossil was discovered in Liaoning, China. Fossil was on display at the Natural History Museum Vienna (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien) on August 2024.

Heteroptera Leaf Bug Fossil

This image is of a Heteroptera  (Latreille, 1810) true bug fossil. The insect existed in the early Cretaceous Period. Fossil was discovered in Liaoning, China. Fossil was on display at the Natural History Museum Vienna (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien) on August 2024.

Ephemeropsis trisetalis Mayfly Larva Fossil

This image is of an Ephemeropsis trisetalis (Eichwald, 1864) mayfly larva fossil. The animal existed in the early Cretaceous Period. Fossil was discovered in Liaoning, China. Fossil was on display at the Natural History Museum Vienna (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien) on August 2024.

Rhaeboceras Ammonite Fossil

This image is of a Rhaeboceras  (Meek, 1876) ammonite fossil. The animal existed in the Cretaceous Period. Fossil was discovered in Montana, USA. Fossil was on display at the Natural History Museum Vienna (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien) on August 2024.

Audouliceras renauxianum Ammonite Fossil

This image is of an Audouliceras renauxianum (d'Orbigny 1842) ammonite fossil. The animal existed in the Cretaceous Period. Fossil was discovered in Uljanowsk, Russia. Fossil was on display at the Natural History Museum Vienna (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien) on August 2024.

Didymoceras nebrascense Ammonite Fossil

This image is of a Didymoceras nebrascense (Meek and Hayden, 1856) ammonite fossil. The animal existed in the Campanian age of the Late Cretaceous Period. Fossil was discovered in South Dakota, USA. Fossil was on display at the Natural History Museum Vienna (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien) on August 2024.

Ammolite - The Organic Gemstone

 

The picture above is a organic gemstone formed from the remains of ancient ammonite creatures. Below is a picture of a Placenticeras meeki (Böhm, 1898) ammonite fossil found in the Bearpaw Shale Formation of the Lethbridge District, Alberta, Canada. The fossil dates to the Cretaceous Period. Specimens were on display at the Natural History Museum Vienna (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien) on August 2024.