Search the Community

Five isolated squamata vertebrae found in Central Texas Eagle Ford between 2016 and 2020 were donated to SMU and Dr. Polcyn for study. Dr. Polcyn's email response after receiving the fossils: "There is a nice assortment.... Dallasaurus, Coniasaurus, and the large vert I believe is squamate, but will need more work. I will have to set them aside for now while I finish some other projects but will come back to them at some point in the near future. Thanks for the contribution!"

I already wrote about in a previous trip report back in September, but I thought it worth posting here as well (I'll link the original trip report below). I'm proud to say that as of last October I was able to donate my first fossil to science - a life-long goal of mine since I was a kid! The mosasaur vertebra I found has the potential to be one of the oldest known to science, or at the very least one of the oldest found in North America. I donated it to SMU's collection after correspondence with Dr. Mike Polcyn as it only seemed right that one of the leading experts on early mosasaurs should have it. Alongside the vertebra I also donated two Ptychodus teeth found within the same shale layer to assist in the dating process. Basal Mosasaurid (anterior caudal vertebra) Upper Cretaceous (Middle Cenomanian) Lake Waco Formation Central Texas - found on September 15, 2022 Donated October 14, 2022 to Southern Methodist University ^ @Jared C and I recently returned to the site to collect unweathered bentonite to assist in the dating process. I haven't taken the several bags we filled up to SMU to deliver to Dr. Polcyn yet but plan to do so soon.

Dr. Lee Berger is giving a talk on Homo Naledi in Dallas on April 17th at Southern Methodist University. This is a link to the flyer and the registration url. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dr-lee-berger-presents-almost-human-the-astonishing-tale-of-homo-naledi-tickets-44560756422 Berger Lecture Registration_Information_April 17.pdf

I'd like to announce that i have donated two pterosaur humeri to a Pterosaur expert in Dallas, Texas @ SMU (Southern Methodist University). Dr.Myers has described many of the Lone Star state's flying reptiles, so he seemed to be the best man for the job. Here's how i "found" these. I frequently will find myself on eBay trying to find good deals, fossils to prep and/or misidentified fossils. These happened to be the latter. A man had found these near Grapevine, Texas. And needless to say, he had no clue what he had found, but i did. I thought it would be a great opportunity to make a few bucks, so i bought them both for under $50. Sweet! Now to find a species to label them with for resale. Well a weeks worth of research had lead me to the simple fact that these could be (and probably are) a new species of pterosaur never found in Texas before. Ok, donation time. And I'm not going to lie, i spent a full day thinking about going to the dark side of just selling these for a crazy amount (kinda tough when you're living paycheck to paycheck to let a money making opportunity slip away). But i figure paleontology has given me SOOOO MUCH, and has literally shaped my reasoning, understanding, passion, etc. There shouldn't even be a question not to donate these to science, and the World. Time traveling and finding fossils is my therapy. And you can't put a price on that. Lol If these do turn out to be a new taxon, expect a reconstruction drawing from yours truly. And hopefully i can name it after my Son. ....and yes, i will be contacting the seller to tell him about his great finds, but only after i get more information on these. I will keep everyone updated. Charlie