#flmnh

[fossilroulette]

Name: Smilodon fatalis Age: 10-160 thousand years ago, Quaternary Period (Pleistocene) Location: Florida, USA, Ichetucknee River

This slicing tooth of a saber-toothed cat is exactly the kind of treasure people hope to find when they search river beds, but those beds can be tough locations for scientific discoveries. The more information about exactly when and where a fossil comes from, the more valuable a fossil is. Rivers often wash away that data.

On one hand, rivers do a great job of exposing fossils. They cut down into long-buried rocks and ancient soils. They carry away smaller, lighter grains of sand and clay. They leave fossils behind in the river bed or along the river bank where they are more likely to be discovered.

On the other hand, by carrying away surrounding rock, the river also carries away information about which layer a fossil comes from. The sediment layer, not the fossil itself, often carries the evidence of how old a fossil is.

Rivers also mix things together. They cut through layers of rocks and soils without discriminating one from another. Fossils from different ages and environments can all end up together on a riverbank. Fossil ages are further obscured as material gets added to riverbeds and banks year by year. Floods wash carcasses into rivers. Trash still ends up in streams. Pleistocene fossils from fifty thousand years ago can end up lying next to modern muskrat jaws and fifty-year-old fishing gear.

Specimen Number: UF 3470 References: References: Hulbert, Richard C. "Ichetucknee River": Fossil Sites of Florida. Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL, https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/florida-vertebrate-fossils/sites/ichetucknee-river/, Revision Date: 6/10/2015 Access Date:2/13/2018 Phylum: Chordata

Where are similar fossils found?

Image ©Florida Museum of Natural History, used with permission.

[emmaroulette]

Here are some of the macro illustrations I made of Philodoria moths at the Florida Museum of Natural History. These guys are really tiny-- only about 5-10mm in length!

Summer 2015

[huckabeejr-blog]

At work like..... I #flmnh #uf

[sfbaymsi]

Creature Feature: Galapagos shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis)

Click Below to learn about this weeks Creature Feature: Galapagos shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis).

Photography by John Turnbull

You may recall that we have discussed a few requiem shark species in previous posts. Requiem sharks, such as Bull Sharks, Tiger Sharks and Oceanic Whitetips all belong to the family Carcharhinidae. Carcharhinids are one of the largest groups of sharks and can be found throughout temperate and tropical waters along the continental shelf to the open waters and even…

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[dailyplantfacts]

Desmopsis trunciflora is in the family Annonaceae. Many species in this family contain a compound called Annonacin, which is extremely poisonous if ingested! Follow for more plant facts and photos! #uf #growbotany #plantscience #dailyplantfacts #flmnh #herbarium

[dailyplantfacts]

Cinnamomum cassia is in the avocado family Lauraceae. Commonly known as Chinese Cinnamon, it is one of multiple species that are cultivated for their bark that is used as a spice! The leaves contain essential oils that are extracted for medicinal benefits as well! Follow for more plant facts and photos! #uf #growbotany #plantscience #dailyplantfacts #plants #botany #herbarium #flmnh #cinnamomum #cinnamon #microscope (at Florida Museum of Natural History, Dickinson Hall)

[dailyplantfacts]

Duguetia quitarensis is in the family Annonaceae. Found in the jungles of South America, the fruits of this species are an aggregate of carpels, meaning that multiple carpels of the flowers fuse together to form the structure seen here! Follow for more plant facts and photos! #uf #growbotany #plantscience #dailyplantfacts #florida #annonaceae #botany #plants #herbarium #flmnh (at Florida Museum of Natural History, Dickinson Hall)

[dailyplantfacts]

Tacca chantrieri is in the yam family Dioscoreaceae. Commonly called the Bat Flower, it is native to Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia, and Southern China. The flowers have black bracts, and long, thin bracteoles that resemble whiskers! Follow for more plant facts and photos! #uf #growbotany #plantscience #dailyplantfacts #flmnh #botany #plants #flowers #tacca (at Bartram and Carr Halls)