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Castle Valley Vol. No. 2 |
Utah
Friends of Paleontology P. O. Box 5984 CEU Campus Price, Utah 84501 |
Byron Ray : President Joan Taylor: Secretary Jim Huffaker: Treasurer Clark Warren: Historian |
AND: Many willing volunteers who help make this chapter the greatest by arranging for speakers, field trips, bringing refreshments to meetings and, in general, keeping the organization going.
Contents
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one for more information)
There are still a limited number of tee shirts left over from the booth that was set up by the state UFOP organization at the Geological Society of America annual meeting in Salt Lake City last year. We sold a number at the Chapter meeting in January, and there are a few left. The shirt has the UFOP logo in red and black on a cream colored shirt.
If there are members who are interested in buying a shirt, contact us at the chapter address or come to the next chapter meeting. .
Dr. Paul Bybee from the Science Department at Utah Valley State College presented an interesting evening of information. His report focused on some work he has done studying the structure of limb bones. He showed slides of extremely thin sections of bone showing the differences in the bone resulting from age, trauma, muscle attachment and other conditions.
We enjoyed an interesting and informative evening together. Thank you, Paul, for sharing your knowledge of dinosaurs with us.
February Meeting Scheduled for 10 Feb.
Our February meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 10. Our guest speaker will be Ken Stadtman who will talk to us about the work that is being done at the Dalton Wells Site near Moab. There have been some interesting finds and Ken will tell us about their dig and will respond to questions from the group.
Our treasurer, Jim Huffaker has received payment for annual dues from many of the chapter members, but there are still a number who need to renew their membership. We would again encourage you to find your check book and send a check to cover the cost of your 1998 dues to the chapter treasurer, Jim Huffaker. Dues can be sent to Jim at: PO Box 5984 CEU Campus, Price, Utah 84501.
Dues should be sent in the amount of:
FAMILY MEMBERSHIP $20
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP $15
STUDENT MEMBERSHIP $10
Thank You !
We Need Newsletter Articles! Send Us Some News!
As always, we invite you to submit any items you feel might be fitting for the newsletter. Anything related to paleontology including cartoons, stories, items of interest.
Remember also, if you have a paleontology related question, we will try to find an answer for you from among the experts who belong to the chapter.
We look forward to hearing from you !
A recent newspaper article contained some interesting thoughts. It came from the associated Press and went as follows:
Scientists say dinosaur fossils discovered in China with feather - like features suggest the creature was warm blooded -- a theory that could heighten the debate over the fundamental nature of dinosaurs.
Researchers have long argued whether dinosaurs were warm or cold blooded. The new study also touches on the debate over why feathers arose.
The Chinese fossil discovery made headlines last year because it appeared to show the creature had primitive feathers. Some scientists said it confirmed the widely accepted notion that birds evolved from dinosaurs.
Others objected, saying it=s not clear whether the fossils really show anything related to feathers. The debate continues.
In Thursday=s issue of the journal Nature, Chinese researchers described two specimens of Sinosauropteryx prima, both discovered by farmers northeast of Beijing.
Scientists are debating how old the fossils are, with estimates ranging from around 120 million years to about 140 million years or older.
The specimens are squished, fossilized remains pressed into slabs of rock, showing the dinosaur in profile. The feather - like features appear along the neck, back and tail.
Scientists have two main theories about why feathers first evolved -- flight and insulation. The feather - like features on the Chinese dinosaur give no sign of being useful for flying, the Chinese scientists said.
Instead, their presence may mean that Sinosauropteryx was warm blooded and used the feather - like features to retain heat, the scientists said. If the dinosaurs were cold blooded instead, the feathery features would have prevented it from warming up by basking in the sunshine.
Well, that=s the story told by AP. What do you think? Were dinosaurs cold blooded, warm blooded, or perhaps were there some of both? Drop us a note and let us know what you think.
We have not yet selected a winner for the January contest, (Why do you think dinosaurs became extinct?) since that will be done at our February meeting. We will let you know the outcome of the contest next month.
Is there anyone out there who can answer the following questions? Send us your answers and we will acknowledge your response in next month=s newsletter.
1. What was the smallest dinosaur and about how big was it?
2. What was the largest dinosaur and how big was it?
3. What dinosaur quarry has produced over 44 complete allosaurus skeletons?
4. When and where was the first dinosaur discovered? Can you name the person who found it?
5. What is your favorite dinosaur and why is it your favorite?
6. This last question is a trick question so watch out! What is the difference between an apatasaurus and a brontosaurus?
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Did you know that dinosaurs have been found on every continent of the world? There have even been dinosaur remains found in frozen Antarctic within the past few years. Two dinosaurs have been excavated from the Antarctic so far. One which is related to the Hypsilophodon is currently being studied by paleontologists in London, England.
