Monday, July 18, 2011

Macginitiea wyomingensus Leaf Fossil






A sycamore leaf (Macginitiea wyomingensus) displayed at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.  The splotches on fossil are insect mines.   Display text shown as "An insect larva burrowed the tunnels or mines on this sycamore leaf."  Leaf is from Eocene Epoch (Paleogene Period) about 45 million years old.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Butterfly in Amber


A butterfly (Voltinia dramba) trapped in amber over 20 million years ago. Amber was found in the Dominican Republic from the Miocene. Fossil was on display in 2010 at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Jeholomesopsyche rasnitsyni - Scorpionfly Fossil

Scorpionfly fossil existed in the Jurassic Period (164 million years ago).  Identified as Jeholomesopsyche rasnitsyni.  Image taken in 2010 at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History - Washington, D.C.