The Florida Museum’s Vertebrate Paleontology collections provide the most complete basis available for study of Cenozoic vertebrate life and evolution in the eastern United States and the circum-Caribbean Basin area.
Combined, the five separate collections total about 850,000 specimens, of which more than 560,000 are catalogued and on a searchable online database. Holotypes number about 245 specimens. Learn more about the collections…
All About Montbrook
For the latest news about the Montbrook fossil site, about both the field and the museum collection, check out the Montbrook Fossil Dig blog.
NEW! Returning Montbrook volunteer or interested in learning how you can get involved? All scheduling and dig information has been moved to the official Montbrook Fossil Dig website.
Recent Research News From Our Collections
Are shark teeth fossils true fossils?
We get questions like this a lot. This question came by tweet. We turned to Richard Hulbert, Florida Museum’s vertebrate…
Remembering lifelong paleontology expert S. David Webb
The Florida Museum of Natural History is saddened to announce the death of S. David Webb, former distinguished research curator…
Extinct Caribbean bird yields DNA after 2,500 years in watery grave
Scientists have recovered the first genetic data from an extinct bird in the Caribbean, thanks to the remarkably preserved bones…
Alachua County bans fossil collecting in Gainesville creeks
On August 12, 2019 Alachua County issued a press release stating that digging for fossils is prohibited in creeks within the boundaries of the county, which includes the well known fossil-rich Gainesville Creeks. Residents of Alachua County are welcome to contact their county commissioner to voice support or opposition to this ruling.
Encyclopedia of Fossil Vertebrates of Florida
New additions to the species accounts are the rhino Teleoceras proterum, the vampire bat Desmodus stocki, and the muskrat Neofiber alleni. New additions to the descriptions of fossil sites are Gunn Farm Mine, Ichetucknee River, and the Montbrook Site. Let us know if there are any special species or fossil sites you want us to add.