Vertebrate Paleontology Research
The department continues to conduct research in the Cleveland Shale shark and arthrodire fauna. These fossil sharks from 360 million years ago are elegant because of skeleton and body outlines, preserved muscle fibers and remains of last meals.
The arthrodire fossils are important because they are from the peak of their evolution, just before their worldwide extinction toward the end of the Devonian.
Current research includes a study on the ontogenetic (growth history) changes in the shape and function of arthrodire jaws, and an analysis of the bite force of the jaws of
Dunkleosteous through its life history with implications for feeding strategies.
The department has also re-expanded its research focus to include dinosaurs. Present research includes the description and phylogenetic analysis of three new ceratopsian (horned) dinosaurs, the morphometric analysis of the small theropod Coelophysis, the description of systematically important ornithischian braincases using CT imaging, and the on-going investigation of the paleoecology and paleobiogeography of the Late Cretaceous dinosaur fauna of the western Interior of North America. More information and field work photos can be viewed at www.dinoresearch.com.
Selected CMNH Publications and Abstracts