An educational resource on the paleontology of Idaho CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The purpose of this website is to serve as an educational resource on the vertebrate and non-vertebrate paleontology of Idaho, as well as the history of research in Idaho and responsible amateur involvement. Fossils from all time periods found in Idaho will be listed and discussed. This website is not all inclusive but is intended for use as a general resource. Questions and comments, as well as suggested contributions, are welcome and can be directed to the author at [email protected].
The purpose of this website is to serve as an educational resource on the vertebrate and non-vertebrate paleontology of Idaho, as well as the history of research in Idaho and responsible amateur involvement. Fossils from all time periods found in Idaho will be listed and discussed. This website is not all inclusive but is intended for use as a general resource. Questions and comments, as well as suggested contributions, are welcome and can be directed to the author at [email protected].
Idaho has lots of fossils, but in contrast to the states north, east, and south of it, it has not received a lot of attention for most of it's paleontology. Invertebrates such as trilobites, brachiopods, crinoids, and molluscs are known in abundance from Paleozoic rocks. Mesozoic rocks have yielded crustaceans, ammonoids and ammonites; molluscs; fish; sharks; turtles, an itchthyosaur; dinosaur bones, teeth, eggs, and footprints; as well as plant remains. Cenozoic rocks have yielded fossil plants, turtles, fish, and numerous mammal fossils, for which Idaho is most famous.
The most up-to-date geologic timescale appears below, and is also available from the International Commission on Stratigraphy website at: http://www.stratigraphy.org/ICS%20chart/ChronostratChart2012.jpg. This timescale can be used to become familiar with the geological times discussed on this website. Ages to the right of the columns in the chart indicate millions of years (Ma) before present.
Fossiliferous sedimentary rocks crop out mainly in the southeastern, southwestern, and central portions of Idaho. The general geology of Idaho is beyond the scope of this website. An excellent web resource is the digital atlas of Idaho, available at:
http://imnh.isu.edu/digitalatlas/. That website also contains a good summary of the paleontology and fossils of Idaho.
The Author
Who am I? I am L.J. Krumenacker, a balding paleo-nerd currently working on my PhD in Earth Sciences at Montana State University under the direction of Dr. David Varricchio. My research interests have been on the Cretaceous vertebrates of Idaho and my dissertation will continue in that focus, with future plans for work in other Mesozoic age rocks in Idaho and other states. I grew up collecting fossils in Idaho. I think this website could benefit those with an appreciation or interest in learning about the fossils resources of Idaho.