July 2015 – Panama Canal Project (PCP PIRE)

Architectonica nobilis | sundial | arquitecto

Fossil Friday 7/31/15: A sundial snail

Jul 31, 2015

The subject of this week’s Fossil Friday is the sundial snail Architectonica nobilis. This particular specimen is late Miocene in … Continued

UF/FGS 5680, the lower left first molar (m1) of Floridatragulus dolichanthereus. Left: occlusal surface; right: medial surface (side facing the tongue). Photo © VP FLMNH.

Fossil Friday: A camel tooth

Jul 24, 2015

This Fossil Friday, we have a tooth from the camelid Floridatragulus dolichanthereus. This specimen was found by Stanley J. Olsen … Continued

Invertebrate Paleo. collection team, July 15, 2015, Lago Alajuela. The terraced shorelines and extremely low lake levels reflect record lows in rainfall during June, the third driest June on record in Panama in the last 100 years. So much exposed shoreline makes for fantastic fossil hunting. Starting with the back row and moving left to right, Cristina Robins, project coordinator PCP-PIRE; Michael Ziegler, PCP-PIRE Intern; Ian Cannon, University of Florida; Jorge Moreno, PCP-PIRE Field Leader; Gina Roberti, PCP-PIRE Intern, Summer 2015.

Invertebrate Paleontology in the mid-Miocene: A trip to Lago Alajuela

Jul 20, 2015

A visit to Panama City by paleontologists Cristina Robins and Ian Cannon from the University of Florida this past week meant several field … Continued

UF 236934, the upper left second molar of an indeterminate peccary. (Photo © VP FLMNH)

7/17/15: A peccary tooth

Jul 17, 2015

For this Fossil Friday I would like to present an upper tooth of a peccary (Family Tayassuidae). This specimen was … Continued

An extant Mellita longifissa plowing through sand. (Photo © Carolina~commonswik)

Fossil Friday 7/10/15: A flat sand dollar

Jul 10, 2015

This Fossil Friday I would like to focus on the genus Mellita, a group of flat sand dollars (Class Echinoidea, … Continued

Tiny sparkling grains of a blue-green metamorphic mineral (most likely epidote) that forms when volcanic basalts are hydrothermally altered. Notice the thin orange layer (perhaps microbial) on the surface, which shows weathering or breakdown of the rock (‘meteorizado’ in spanish). Oftentimes it requires a rock hammer to break open the rock and see past this superficial rind.

Bedrock Quest: Reflections on Fieldwork in the Azuero Peninsula

Jul 6, 2015

Delicate and intricate, the complexity of ecology and climate in the tropics presents a challenge for any scientist wishing to study more … Continued

UF 264544, the left otolith of Paralonchurus trinidadensis. (Photo © VP FLMNH)

Fossil Friday 7/3/15: An otolith

Jul 3, 2015

For this week’s Fossil Friday we have an otolith from a fish called Paralonchurus trinidadensis. This specimen was found at … Continued

Month: July 2015