Alabama designated Basilosaurus cetoides (Zeuglodon) as the official state fossil in 1984. Fossil remains of this prehistoric whale were first found in Clarke County about 1833 and later discovered in Choctaw and Washington Counties.
Where was the Basilosaurus located?
Basilosaurus, also called Zeuglodon, extinct genus of primitive whales of the family Basilosauridae (suborder Archaeoceti) found in Middle and Late Eocene rocks in North America and northern Africa (the Eocene Epoch lasted from 55.8 million to 33.9 million years ago).
What is Alabama state dinosaur?
Basilosaurus cetoides is the official state fossil of Alabama.
Where were dinosaur fossils found in Alabama?
In the southeastern U.S., researchers have named three dinosaurs in the history of the science. All three were from Alabama. Two of them – the new one and the Appalachiosaurus montgomeriensis, a relative of T. rex that was found in Montgomery County in 1982 – are on display at McWane.
What is the oldest fossils found in Alabama?
Several 80-million-year-old fossils found in Alabama are from a species of sea turtle that is the oldest known member of the lineage that gave rise to all modern species of sea turtle, according to new research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
What is Alabama state fossil?
Originally, it was believed that Basilosaurus was an extinct reptile, hence its name, which means “king lizard.” In 1984, Basilosaurus cetoides was adopted as the state fossil of Alabama.
Could Basilosaurus still exist?
While the last Basilosaurus fossils come from rock layers that are around 33.9 million years old, it is not a terrible concept to think it could have survived past that time and into the modern times.
Did dinosaurs live in Alabama?
A relative of T. rex, Appalachiosaurus was the dominant predator in Alabama during the Late Cretaceous Period. The bones on display in this exhibit come from the most complete Appalachiosaurus ever discovered and represent the most complete tyrannosaur ever found in the eastern half of the United States.
What US state has the most dinosaurs?
Here are the top 15 states with the most dinosaur fossils:
- California- 1,473.
- Wyoming- 1,082.
- Montana- 909.
- Florida- 887.
- New Mexico- 882.
- Utah- 667.
- Colorado- 556.
- Texas- 447.
What state dinosaur is the T. rex?
List of dinosaurs for states in the US
| State or Territory | Dinosaur | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | Acrocanthosaurus atokensis | 2006 |
| Texas | Sauropoiseidon proteles (originally Paluxysaurus jonesi) | 2009 (replaced Pleurocoelus which was state dinosaur 1997–2009) |
| Utah | Utahraptor ostrommaysorum | 2018 |
| Wyoming | Triceratops horridus | 1994 |
Was Alabama once underwater?
Most of present-day Alabama was covered in a shallow sea for millions of years, and so most of the fossils found in the state are of marine creatures, including giant mosasaurs and ancient oysters.
When was Alabama an ocean?
During the Late Cretaceous some 82 million years ago, high temperatures melted the polar ice caps submerging the world’s coasts. A shallow sea known as the Mississippi Embayment spilled out over the southeastern United States, blanketing much of Alabama.
Why is Alabama more likely to find dinosaur remains than states on the West Coast?
The higher sea levels partially account for the shallow seas that flooded the southern portion of the state. The waters over west and central Alabama were deeper than 90 meters and produced the Black Belt’s characteristic chalky sedimentary deposits and the numerous fossils of open-marine animals found in them.
What Ice Age animal lived in Alabama?
Megalonyx. All ground sloths known in Alabama date to the Pleistocene Epoch, also known as the Ice Age. These specimens range in age from 150,000 to 13,000 years old. Ground sloths are a member of a group of animals called.
Where can I dig for fossils in Alabama?
Where to Find Fossils in Alabama?
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Physiographic Section.
- Walker County, Alabama, specifically the former Union Chapel surface coal mine located near Sumiton in Walker County.
- The city of Auburn is located in Lee County in east-central Alabama.
How old is petrified wood in Alabama?
90-million-year-old
The 90-million-year-old petrified log sits outside Smith Hall. Petrified wood occurs across the state of Alabama, where it is often called “brilliant wood” because of its discovery near Brilliant and its lustrous sheen caused by cavities lined with quartz crystals.
How long ago did the Basilosaurus live?
Basilosaurus lived in the oceans during the Late Eocene period from 41 to 33 million years ago.
Why is Basilosaurus a misleading name?
Basilosaurus Was Once Mistaken for a Prehistoric Reptile
Because its long, narrow skull so closely resembled that of Mosasaurus, Basilosaurus was initially and incorrectly “diagnosed” as a marine reptile of the Mesozoic Era and given its deceptive name (Greek for “king lizard”) by the naturalist Richard Harlan.
What did the Basilosaurus eat?
Paleontologists already suspected that Basilosaurus fed on large fish and other whales. Gut contents from another Basilosaurus species – Basilosaurus cetoides – showed this whale ate sharks and large fish. And Dorudon skulls previously found at Wadi Al Hitan show bite marks most likely made by Basilosaurus.
Is the blue whale a dinosaur?
Depending on the dinosaur, they ranged in height from 20 to 60 feet tall, while the average blue whale is only 15 feet tall.
Comparing Blue Whale vs Dinosaurs.
| Blue Whale | Dinosaurs | |
|---|---|---|
| Size Comparisons | 2 and a half school buses long, and 4-5 buses in weight! | Four times as heavy as the Eiffel Tower! |
Why is the Basilosaurus important?
The king of the lizards turned out to be the first fully ocean-dwelling whale. Today, we know that the Basilosaurus is the first ancient whale humanity has ever found. But back when it was first described, the animal’s huge proportions earned it the name of ‘king lizard’.