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Huge Dimetrodon Score!

dinodigger

By dinodigger
in Fossil Hunting Trips

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dinodigger Regular Member

dinodigger

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Hey gang,

Huge score this week in Dimetrodon land. Our huge beast of a Dimetrodon, Patti, is slowly becoming more and more complete. The near complete Dimetrodon loomisi, Mallori, laying next to the Dimetrodon grandis, Patti, is becoming more fascinating every day. This is the first time the two species have been found at this completeness side by side. The morphological studies defining the two is going to be so. much. fun. Two weeks ago I found a strange bone near Patti's skull; initially I attributed it to something sacral in nature. When I finally took it out after mapping, I notice the basioccipital process hidden below a thin layer of clay. It was the braincase. I can't even begin to describe how incredible this is. For one, and least important, its one of four we have found in 8 years. Thats only one every two years. This year we found three. Mallori the Dimetrodon loomisi has one, a complete one at that. Patti's is immense. This is the first time a skeleton has been found that is inarguably a grandis species, which has a pretty complete skeleton including the pelvis and braincase. I found the pelvis on friday, also complete and uncrushed. Grandis is supposed to have a longer ilium than other species. Finally a grandis with all the parts. We can finally osteologicaly define a Dimetrodon grandis. More fun than a barrel full of subterranean diplocaulids in springtime...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/45026327@N05/sets/72157641875759275/

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Auspex Regular Member

Auspex

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Astonishing! Now, the fun begins; rewriting the books!

"There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant

“Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley

>Paleontology is an evolving science.

>May your wonders never cease!

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Uncle Siphuncle Regular Member

Uncle Siphuncle

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that deserves a texas "WHOA!!!"

Grüße,

Daniel A. Wöhr aus Südtexas

"To the motivated go the spoils."

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fossilized6s Regular Member

fossilized6s

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Awesome! Congrats! I can't wait to see them when youre done!

~Charlie~

"There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK
->Get your Mosasaur print
->How to spot a fake Trilobite
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jpc Regular Member

jpc

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Cool. No, Way Cool.

So, are you becoming an expert at Dimetrodon osteology? As an ecologically minded fellow, I am immediately suspicious of the existence of several species of large carnivores in the same place and time. Granted I know nothing about Dimetrodon anatomy, but I am intrigued to hear how these two species differ. And I know that Bob is a huge splitter. I checked the Paleobiology Database and there are dozens of species of Dimetrodon. I wonder if it true or if there is siomply a lot of variation in specimens.

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dinodigger Regular Member

dinodigger

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Dr. B is definitely a splitter, arguably so. Feisty guy. The two Dimetrodon's we see at the ranch are Grandis and Loomisi. The vertebrae are a huge giveaway. Loomisi's have very long, slender centrums. Grandis, very short and stubby centrums. Cervicals are terribly different from one another. Axis is also very much different. Tooth counts and morphology is also a big hint; grandis maxillae counts number around 8. very large and blunt. Seems to be the pattern on other grandis skulls collected by Romer and Sternberg. Loomisi continues to follow a very gracile form; maxillae tooth count exceeds 15, and much more slender. Serration counts and patterns on the two seem to be a bit different as well. Seeing a little weirdness there under the scope but haven't nailed it down. I'll post some pics of vertebrae of the two. One other point is the pelvis. Longer illium prong on grandis than loomisi; suggested by Sternberg as well, he called the species gigas for a while. Looking forward to comparing the braincases on the two; both skeletons in the block currently have complete braincases. Lot of suggestions that the shape of the basioccipital process varies from species to species. Either way, going to be fun drawing up the differences as we prep out the skeletons.

CF

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jpc Regular Member

jpc

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Excellent summary, Chris. Now we all know more about Dimetrodon bones that we did a few minutes ago. Its still ecologically weird to have multiple species of one genus living so close together. Makes me wonder what they were doing differently form each other. I was just in Florida and had similar thoughts seeing all the water birds hanging out together. But since we can see those guys in life we know that the herons for example all have their own little way of life that is different form their heron cousins. Interesting stuff.

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Harris New Member

Harris

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So cool! Keep posting as many pics as possible, we are all excited to see the excavation! Congratulations!

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Fossildude19 Regular Member

Fossildude19

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Excellent progress made here, Chris.

You're doing some very interesting work there, that will write some new pages in paleontology.

Very interesting discussion as well.

Thanks for your update posts - they are appreciated.

Regards,

    Tim    -  VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER

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Scylla Regular Member

Scylla

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Cool. No, Way Cool.

So, are you becoming an expert at Dimetrodon osteology? As an ecologically minded fellow, I am immediately suspicious of the existence of several species of large carnivores in the same place and time. Granted I know nothing about Dimetrodon anatomy, but I am intrigued to hear how these two species differ. And I know that Bob is a huge splitter. I checked the Paleobiology Database and there are dozens of species of Dimetrodon. I wonder if it true or if there is siomply a lot of variation in specimens.

I agree that this is way cool and even way way cool! When do you start thinking about sexual dimorphism in a species. How different can they be while still the same species?

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Auspex Regular Member

Auspex

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...Its still ecologically weird to have multiple species of one genus living so close together....

The thought is that the site was a drying, dieing waterhole. It's full of prey, too.

"There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant

“Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley

>Paleontology is an evolving science.

>May your wonders never cease!

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Shamalama Regular Member

Shamalama

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It's always awesome to learn the answer to a riddle that has plagued you for some time. :) Congrats!

-Dave

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Geologists on the whole are inconsistent drivers. When a roadcut presents itself, they tend to lurch and weave. To them, the roadcut is a portal, a fragment of a regional story, a proscenium arch that leads their imaginations into the earth and through the surrounding terrain. - John McPhee

If I'm going to drive safely, I can't do geology. - John McPhee

Check out my Blog for more fossils I've found: http://viewsofthemahantango.blogspot.com/

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cowsharks Regular Member

cowsharks

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Very interesting dialogue - learning lots :)

Any idea as to how long it will take to prep one or both specimens and put them back together?

Daryl.

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dinodigger Regular Member

dinodigger

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When can we all visit you and the new museum?

Our opening date is june 7th; still have a few months to get it ready. Building is almost fixed up on the inside. Still have a ton of work to do to get exhibits ready, so it will be close. I'll put a couple opening date update posts as we get closer. Would love to get a ton of forum visitors.

Cheers,

Chris

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