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Alligator Found at the Gray Fossil Site - We finally hit one! See pictures of our new specimen below! Updated - 06/21/06 |
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The "Crocodillian" fossils from the site are most
certainly alligator ( Alligator sp.), but may represent the living A.
mississippiensis . The lack of complete cranial (skull) material has
made identification problematic; however, the abundance of post-cranial
material suggests that many individuals may be present (increasing the likelihood
of recovering a skull). The presence of this animal is consistent with interpretation of the site as a water hole (once the sinkhole began to fill with water).
Modern alligator osteoderm (boney plates within the skin that are visible on an alligator's back) in the center, and fossil osteoderms from Gray circling it. "Our new gator!"
This year's season is off to a great start! Our first target was an "alligator" that was washing out of a bank. Dr. Schubert (front right) oversaw the excavation which progressed better than expected.
Within just a few days of digging we had already outlined what was probably a 5+ foot gator. Because some of the tail was missing (eroded out of the bank or missing from TDOT's original work), only about 3-4 feet remained. Fortunately, several natural cracks in the clay had inflicted little damage to the specimen. In fact, the cracks allowed us to jacket the skull (small block at bottom) separate from the rest of the body (larger block).
Dr. Schubert's excitement once we flipped the "body block"!
While excavating, only three of the limbs were accounted for. Therefore, we made the skull jacket fairly large hoping to "get lucky". Boy did we! Look at the wonderful (complete) right limb next to the nearly complete skull.
Close-up of the right manus (hand) showing the great preservation including the "claws".
Great picture of the skull "in process". Jeff is still working on it, but it already looks great!
Another view with the lower jaw (the teeth have not placed back in yet). ~ More pics to come as this specimen is prepared. ~
Click
here to find out more about living alligators. |
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