September 24, 2008
Jumping Tracks and other Mammal Tracks
presented by
Toni Culver
Collections Manager
UC-Boulder Museum of Natural History

Ms. Culver will tell listeners about the first known Miocene vertebrate track-site from Colorado.  Two  undescribed track-bearing specimens were donated to both the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of Colorado at Denver several decades ago.  Re-evaluation of the tracks and the relocation of the Brown's Park Formation site revealed a relatively diverse ichnofauna of rodents, ungulates, and arthropods.  The rodent tracks are unusual as one of only two known examples attributable to jumping rodents.  The site represents the first Cenozoic example of an eolian vertebrate ichnofacies known from the Rocky Mountain Region and the lack of rodent body fossils from the Brown's Park Formation formulates an enigmatic conclusion about the specific rodent fauna.
 

Education Committee chairwoman, Beth Simmons, has announced a schedule of 7 Fireside Chats for  2008.  This lecture and slide show series typically takes an in-depth look at a locally-relevant geology or paleontology topic.  Fireside Chats are presented by professionals in the field and Friends of Dinosaur Ridge volunteers.  Programs start at 7:00 pm and usually last approximately 1½ hours.  For more details on a specific program, please contact the Friends of Dinosaur Ridge at (303) 697-3466.

Please note, the majority of programs in this series are aimed towards a professional audience or the amateur geologist/paleontologist.  Please contact the Friends of Dinosaur Ridge if you have questions about the age-appropriateness of a specific program.