National

Park 

Service

Department of 

the Interior

SURVEY

YELLOWSTONE PALEONTOLOGICAL

 The Yellowstone 

 Paleontological Survey

Vincent L. Santucci

Yellowstone Center for Resources

National Park Service

 Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

YCR-NR-98-1

 1998
How to cite this document: Santucci, V. L. 1998. The Yellowstone Paleontological Survey. Yellowstone Center for

Resources, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming,YCR-NR-98-1.

Current address for Vincent L. Santucci is National Park Service, P.O. Box 592, Kemmerer, WY 83101.
The Yellowstone Paleontological Survey

To Lt. Col. Luke J. Barnett, III

“Uncle by blood, brother in spirit!”

Vincent L. Santucci

Yellowstone Center for Resources

National Park Service

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

YCR-NR-98-1

1998
Table of Contents

Introduction .................................................................................................... 1

Stratigraphy .................................................................................................... 4

Fossil Chronology........................................................................................... 6

Taxonomy ..................................................................................................... 12

Localities ...................................................................................................... 15

Interpretation ................................................................................................ 19

Paleontological Resource Management........................................................ 21

Research........................................................................................................ 24

Collections and Curation .............................................................................. 26

Paleontological Resources near Yellowstone ................................................ 29

Bibliography ................................................................................................. 30

Appendix A. Yellowstone Paleontological Survey Proposal ....................... 34

Appendix B. Yellowstone Paleo-Species List .............................................. 36

Appendix C. RMP Paleontological Project Statements............................... 43

Appendix D. Paleontology Researchers at Yellowstone .............................. 45

Appendix E. Fossil Specimens in Park Collections .................................... 46

Appendix F. Yellowstone Fossils in Outside Repositories .......................... 48
INTRODUCTION

A survey of Yellowstone’s fossil resources wasinitiated in the same spirit of discovery demonstrated by Captain William Raynolds, Henry Washburn,

and Ferdinand Hayden. Rumors of marine reptiles,

trilobite mass death assemblages, and even dinosaurs in

Yellowstone have lured a team of paleontologists in the

same way that the legends of “Colter’s Hell” and Jim

Bridger’s “Tall Tales” have attracted many before.

Compared to other natural resources at Yellowstone

National Park, fossils have received little attention.

Except for the research conducted on the petrified forests,

Yellowstone’s fossils have remained a relative “paleoincognita” more than 125 years after the park’s establishment. As this survey demonstrates, the lack of paleontological research is not due to a lack of significant fossils.

Perhaps historian Aubrey Haines provided the best

explanation in his comment, “Past administrations

preferred that resources not in the public’s eye be left

alone” (pers. commun.).

Recognizing the contributions a paleontological

survey could make to Yellowstone, we developed a

research proposal for projects that would enhance the

park staff’s ability to manage Yellowstone’s fossil

resources (Appendix A). This report contains information compiled between 1995 and 1997, including field

surveys begun in 1996. The work was accomplished

through the voluntary efforts of the principle investigator,

who had been previously employed as a national park

paleontologist and is familiar with National Park Service

paleontological resource management guidelines and

methodologies, and the co-investigator, Bill Wall, who

has conducted paleontological fieldwork and supervised

field crews in numerous national parks.

It has been our privilege to work at Yellowstone. We

hope that this document helps to increase the status and

awareness of Yellowstone’s paleontological resources,

and provides a baseline from which future projects can be

planned. We believe that the information available in this

report can enhance management decision making and

perhaps pave the way to further paleontological discoveries in Yellowstone.

The Significance of Yellowstone’s Fossil

Resources

Yellowstone National Park preserves an extensive

geologic record ranging from the Precambrian through

the Holocene epoch. Except for Silurian period deposits,

rocks of nearly every geologic time period are exposed

within the boundaries of the park.

More than 20 fossiliferous stratigraphic units have

been identified at Yellowstone, containing fossil plants,

invertebrates, vertebrates and trace fossils. The few fossil

specimens in the park museum provide a glimpse into a

record of life in the Yellowstone area that extends back

hundreds of millions of years. Yellowstone fossil

collections within the Smithsonian and other museums,

including numerous “type” specimens, are recognized as

scientifically and historically significant. (A “type”

specimen is the reference specimen used to define a

particular genus or species.)

Paleozoic and Mesozoic Rocks. Paleozoic and

Mesozoic sedimentary rocks are well exposed in the

northern range of Yellowstone. The Paleozoic sections

measure 3,000-feet thick. Both marine and non-marine

Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous units are mapped in the

park. The late Cretaceous sections are 4,000-feet thick.

Many fossil localities have been identified within these

units.

Petrified Forests. The most significant aspect of

Yellowstone’s petrified forests, which are probably the

best studied aspect of its fossil resources, is that petrified

wood and impressions of fossil leaves are present in the

The Importance of Yellowstone’s Petrified

Forests

• Petrified wood and fossil leaves are present

at the same location.

• Many hundreds of fossil tree trunks are still

standing upright.

• Successive stratigraphic layers of petrified

forests are preserved.

• A great diversity of fossil plants has been

preserved, including: fossil leaves, twigs,

needles, cones and seeds.

• Large geographic areas of petrified forest are

exposed.

• Its paleobotanical specimens provide data on

one of the warmest portions of the Tertiary.
2

same location. This unusual association provides

tremendous research opportunities for taxonomic and

paleoecologic investigations. These fossil forests

represent a life assemblage of trees, whereas areas such

as Petrified Forest National Park show transported

assemblages of fossil trees.

Lamar Cave Mammal Fossils. One of the most

significant paleontological resources in Yellowstone is the

subfossil material including 36 mammal species that were

collected from Lamar Cave by Elizabeth Barnosky. This

assemblage of fossils provides information related to late

Holocene mammalian diversity (1994). The presence of

the wolf (Canis lupus) in late Holocene deposits supports

the belief that wolves have been part of the Yellowstone

ecosystem for hundreds of years.

Historical Background

The first fossil collections from Yellowstone are

attributed to the Hayden Survey of 1871. The fossil leaf

material obtained during this expedition was described by

Leo Lesquereux in 1872. Dr. William Henry Holmes was

the first to report the occurrence of a great quantity of

fossil wood near Junction Butte and in the cliffs of the

Lamar River valley (“Reports of the 1878 Hayden

Survey”), the first to interpret the existence of successively buried forests in Yellowstone, and the first to refer

to animal fossils in Yellowstone. In 1878 he accompanied Henry Gannett to the summit of the peak now

named Mount Holmes, where he found marine fossils

and trilobites on a ridge just below the summit that was

later named Trilobite Point.

Published accounts of earlier surveys include reports

of fossils from areas outside of Yellowstone. Despite

Hayden’s great interest in paleontology and years of

collecting fossils in the west, his early reports provide

little direct discussion of fossils in the Yellowstone area.

William Ludlow’s “Reconnaissance” in 1875 included

fossil surveys and descriptions of fossil discoveries

outside of Yellowstone, but he did not report any fossil

material observed in the park.

On August 1, 1883, the Livingston Enterprise

reported, “The head of an extinct species of rhinoceros

and vertebrae of a large fossil saurian in an excellent state

of preservation were found in the bank of Yellowstone

Lake near the camp of W.A. Forwood, surgeon to the

president [Garfield]. Of course they are liable to be the

bones of buffalo or elk but he considers them a great

prize just the same.” (Haines pers. commun.).

In 1896, while visiting Yancey’s Camp, J. Felix

collected some fossil plant material in the area and

described a number of species of fossil wood in a short

publication (1896).

F.H. Knowlton (1899) made the most complete study

of the Yellowstone fossil forests in a comprehensive

monograph that identified nearly 150 different species

and provided a detailed taxonomic treatment of the fossil

plants, especially the leaf impressions.

The Yellowstone archives include correspondence

between geologist Clyde Max Bauer, the park’s chief

naturalist between 1932 and 1946, and famous paleontologists of the day. One letter reported the discovery of

dinosaur bones around Geode Lake by park naturalist

David De Lancey Condon in 1939. In his popular book,

Yellowstone, Its Underground World (Bauer 1962), Bauer

indicated that “a few dinosaurs” had been found in or

near the park.

Erling Dorf and students from Princeton University

conducted paleontological and geological field investigations in Yellowstone between 1955 and 1959 (Dorf

1964). In the mid-1970s, researchers from Loma Linda

and Walla Walla Universities began a wide range of

paleobotanical studies in the park (Arct 1979; Fisk 1976;

Fritz 1977, 1982, 1986).

Most of what can be learned from Yellowstone’s

fossil record of life is yet to be discovered and remains

buried within park sediments. Casual collecting has

yielded evidence of late Cambrian extinction events,

giant marine reptiles, and a glimpse at life in the

Yellowstone area before man’s arrival.

Portrait of William H. Holmes.

Introduction
Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 3

Acknowledgments

I came to realize after my first season with the

National Park Service in 1985 that some of the best

resources in the parks are the people. This belief has

been reinforced at Yellowstone National Park. The

Yellowstone Paleontological Survey has been greatly

enhanced and inspired by many individuals.

My initial contact with Yellowstone regarding a

proposal to conduct a paleontological survey of the park

was with Stu Coleman, Branch Chief of Natural Resources. Although Stu is surrounded with issues such as

wolves, grizzlies, geysers, and exotic species, he has

conveyed a positive interest in Yellowstone’s fossils.

Likewise, Laura Joss, Branch Chief of Cultural Resources, provided great enthusiasm and support for a

paleontological survey at Yellowstone. A sincere thanks

to Stu and Laura for helping to get the ball rolling and

facilitating our efforts along the way.

Thanks to the management and staff of Yellowstone

National Park for providing support and suggestions for

this survey, including: Marv Jensen, John Varley, Bob

Lindstrom, Ann Johnson, Lee Whittlesey, Ron Thoman,

Dan Sholly, Jennifer Whipple, Eleanor Williams, and

Craig McClure. I gained insight into the issues related to

protection of the petrified wood sites in the park during

discussions with Brian O’Dea, Bob Seibert, Rick Bennett,

Bonnie Gafney, and Colette Daigle-Berg.

The staff at the Yellowstone Park Museum and

Yellowstone Park Research Library, especially Susan

Kraft and Vanessa Christopher, have provided many

contributions to this project. Despite their busy

workloads, both Susan and Vanessa were always supportive to the frequent requests for assistance and information.

A special thanks to Sue Consolo Murphy, Rick

Hutchinson, and Arvid Aase for editorial review of this

document. The work of Mary Ann Franke and Sarah

Broadbent has significantly improved the quality of this

document. Additional thanks to Renee Evanoff for

creating the Yellowstone Paleontological Survey logo that

is used as the cover illustration for this document.

Eric Compas and the Geographic Information System

(GIS) staff at Yellowstone donated their time to help map

fossil locations. The production of a paleo-locality map

using GIS was one of the most important components of

Arnold Hague and

assistant along the

Firehole River. In 1883,

Hague was assigned to

Yellowstone in charge of

a Geologic Survey.
4

the paleontological survey. Eric’s assistance is greatly

appreciated.

Two retired Yellowstone employees, Wayne Hamilton

and Aubrey Haines, still carry Yellowstone close to their

hearts. Both men made contributions to the park during

their time. The information they shared regarding

Yellowstone’s fossils provided the foundation on which

this survey was built.

Lindsay McClelland, Bob Higgins, and Greg

McDonald are NPS staff outside of Yellowstone working

to promote paleontological resource management and

research. Each has been very supportive of the

Yellowstone Paleontological Survey and is actively

searching for sources of funding.

I have been fortunate to have known Bill Wall for

over a decade. We have worked together on numerous

national park fossil projects including research at

Badlands, Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, Alaskan

national parks and now Yellowstone. Bill and his field

crews of students from Georgia College have trekked

many miles into fossil parks. Their efforts have led to

many important fossil discoveries.

Current and past park researchers involved in projects

related to park fossils are recognized for their contributions. Their work helped us to better understand and

interpret the paleobiology of the Yellowstone region.

Information was obtained through conversations with

researchers Scott Wing (Smithsonian), Kirk Johnson

(Denver Museum of Natural History), Ken Cannon

(Midwest Archeological Center), Barbara Stahl, Michael

Hansen (Otho Geological Survey), David Brezinski

(Maryland Geological Survey), Pat Leiggi and Jack

Horner (both of The Museum of the Rockies).

I am grateful to Dennis Young for providing me the

opportunity to come and work as a ranger at Madison

Junction in Yellowstone during 1996. Without direct

funding to support the paleontological survey, I was able

to use my days off at Yellowstone to accomplish portions

of the project. At Madison I discovered two energetic

volunteers, Dr. Samuel “Neal” and Mary Cissel. The

Cissels contributed their time to photograph fossil

specimens in the park collections. Their assistance and

friendship are greatly appreciated.

Finally, to my family, Bianca, Luke, and Jacob

Santucci, who have travelled with me across country and

out into the field, I express my love and appreciation for

supporting my dreams.

STRATIGRAPHY

W.H. Weed produced the first paper on

Yellowstone’s sedimentary rocks in 1896, and

with J. P. Iddings prepared maps that established the

earliest stratigraphic column for the park in 1899. Later

work by J. D. Love (1956), E. T. Ruppel (1982) and

others established the need to consider the stratigraphy of

the northern part of Yellowstone separately from the

south-central part. See Figure 1, Stratigraphic nomenclature of sedimentary rock units in Yellowstone National

Park (from Ruppel 1982).

Most of Yellowstone National Park is covered by

Tertiary and Quaternary volcanic and glacial deposits.

Older Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks are exposed in a few

areas where erosion and glacial scouring has uncovered

these unites. Precambrian through Late Cretaceous rocks

are exposed in the Gallatin Range. Jurassic and a thick

section of Cretaceous rocks are found on Mount Everts.

Precambrian and Paleozoic units outcrop in the northeast

corner of the park. Paleozoic rocks are also exposed in

the Birch Hills and Snake River areas along the southern

boundary of Yellowstone.

Large portions of the park are covered by Tertiary

volcanics. There is the potential for vertebrate fossils in

the Absaroka Volcanic Supergroup (Middle Eocene). The

Hoodoo Basin in the eastern portion of the park may have

potential for vertebrate fossils. This area is remote, but it

may be accessed by a Forest Service road or on the trail

into the park at Bootjack Gap. The Wapiti and Aycross

formations contain Bridgerian vertebrate fossils on the

east flank of the Absarokas. Lower Tepee Trail Formation is late Bridgerian to early Uintan. Middle and Upper

Tepee Trail Formation has yielded Uintan fauna. Tepee

Trail flora is known from Kisinger Lakes area, Bridgerian

fauna from Togwater Pass area.

Introduction
Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 5

Age Northern part of the park 

(Ruppel, 1982)

Terminology of Iddings 

and Weed (1899)

South-centeral part 

of park (J. D. Love and 

W. R. Keefer, written 

commun, 1971)

Quaternary

of Teritary

Paleocene Pinyon Conglomerate Pinyon Conglomerate

Heart Lake 

Conglomerate

Landslide Creek Fm. (part)

Everts Formation

Eagle Sandstone

Laramie Formation Harabell Formation

Bacon Ridge

Sandstone Telegraph Creek 

Formation

Cody Shale

Montana 

Formation Cody Shale

Frontier Sandstone

Mowry Shale

Colorado 

Formation

Frontier Formation

Mowry Shale

Muddy Sandstone 

Member

Thermopolis Shale

upper sandstone

member

middle shale 

member

lower sandstone

member

Dakota

Formation

rusty beds member

Cloverly and

Morrison(?) formations

Kootenai Formation

Morrison Formation

Swift

Formation

Rierdon

Formation

Sawtooth

Formation

Ellis 

Formation

Sundance

Formation

Gypsum Spring

Formation

Thaynes(?) Formation

Woodside Formation

Dinwoody Formation

Teton

Formation

lower part Chugwater

Formation

Dinwoody

Formation

Permian Sherdron Sandstone Phosphoria Formation

and related rocks

Pennsylvanian

Quadrant Sandstone

Amsden Formation

Quadrant

Quartzite

Tensleep

Sandstone

Amsden Formation

Mississippian

Mission Canyon

Limestone

Lodgepole

Limestone

Madison

Limestone

Madison

Limestone

Devonian

Three Forks

Formation

Jefferson Formation

Three Forks

Formation

Jefferson Formation

Darby

Formation

Ordovician Bighorn Dolomite

Gallatin

Formation

Bighorn Dolomite

Gallatin

Limestone

Gros Ventre

Formation

Flathead

Sandstone

Flathead

Formation

Snowy

Range 

Fm.

Grove Creek Lm. Mem.

Sage Lm. Mem.

Dry Creek Shale Mem.

Pilgrim Limestone

Park Shale

Meagner Limestone

Wolsey Shale

Flathead Sandstone

Cambrian

Madison

Group

Not exposed but present 

in subsurface

Jurassic

Ellis Group

Cretaceous

Ellis Group

Triassic

Figure 1. Stratigraphic nomenclature of sedimentary units in

Yellowstone National Park (adapted from Ruppel, 1982).
6

Geologic Period Type of Formation/ Location Reported Fossils in Yellowstone

PALEOZOIC All known sedimentary rocks are

marine; approx. thickness of 3,000

feet; exposures in Gallatin Range,

Barronette Peak, Abiathar Peak,

eastern portion of Buffalo Plateau,

isolated outcrops along Slough and

Soda Butte Creeks, Birch Hills, and the

Snake River.

Fossils reported from Paleozic rocks by

Deiss (1936), Duncan (1937), Girty

(1899), Grant (1965), and Walcott

(1899).

Middle Cambrian Flathead Sandstone: outcrops in

southern Gallatin Range, on Buffalo

Plateau, and west of Bison Peak.

The Crowfoot Ridge section includes a

one-foot thick zone of sandy oolitic

hematite beds that contain small

brachiopods (Deiss 1936), the only

known fossils from Flathead Sandstone.

Wolsey Shale: outcrops in Gallatin

Range and on Buffalo Plateau.

Only the trilobite trace fossil Cruziana;

evident in the Crowfoot Ridge area in

the Gallatin Mountains. Alokistocare,

Anoria, Bolaspis, Glyhaspis, Hyolithes,

and Westonia reported from sections

outside the park.

Meagher Limestone: outcrops in

southern Gallatin Range, on Buffalo

Plateau, and west of Slough Creek.

Deiss (1936) indicates fossils are rare; a

few fragments of trilobites have been

observed. Kootenia, Ehmania, and

Glyphaspis are reported from exposures

outside the park.

Park Shale: poorly exposed in the

park; at Crowfoot Ridge in Gallatin

Range and small outcrop at easternmost Slough Creek.

None.

Late Cambrian Pilgrim Limestone: Well-exposed in

northeast corner of park along Soda

Butte Creek, on east canyon wall of

Buffalo Creek near Slough Creek,

upper portion of Buffalo Plateau, and

in Gallatin Range. Contains three

units:

• Lower unit of interbedded ribboned

limestone, glauconitic oolitic

limestone, and less common

limestone pebble conglomerate.

The ribboned limestone is rich in

trilobite fragments.

FOSSIL CHRONOLOGY

The earliest fossils found in Yellowstone date from the middle Cambrian period, approximately 510 million years

before the present.

Fossil Chronology
Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 7

• Middle unit consists of coarse-grained

glauconitic limestone pebble conglomerate.

• Upper unit of mottled oolitic limestone.

Geologic Period Type of Formation/ Location Reported Fossils in Yellowstone

Contains abundant fossil fragments.

None.

Snowy Range Formation: exposed in

Gallatin Range and on Buffalo Plateau.

• Dry Creek Shale Member.

• Sage Limestone Member: composed of

algal columns as much as a foot in

diameter.

• Grove Creek Limestone Member: only

known exposure is on Three Rivers

Peak; contains some algal dolomite or

vertical algal columns.

Wayne Hamilton collected trilobite

spines in 1995 from a unit he believed

to be Snowy Range (pers. commun.).

None.

Collenia magna beds occur on Buffalo

Plateau (Grant 1965); includes many

fossiliferous beds.

Contains brachiopods and trilobite

fragments in lower sections;

Billingsella in the top sections.

Gallatin Limestone: limited exposure in

the Birch Hills area.

Park exposures not yet surveyed for

fossils—currently no data available.

Ordovician Crinoids, brachiopods, bryozoans, and

ostracods.

Devonian Jefferson Formation (late): exposed on

Three Rivers Peak and in northeast

corner of park.

Three Forks Formation (late): wellexposed on Three Rivers Peak; also in

Gallatin Range and in northeast corner of

park.

Darby Formation: small exposure just

north of the Fox Creek patrol cabin in

Snake River area.

Isolated beds containing

stromatoporoids; one horizon with

small horn corals.

Fossils are relatively rare. A few

brachiopods have been identified.

None in the park.

Mississippian Lodgepole Limestone (Madison Group):

best exposure is on south face of

Bannock Peak; thick exposures also near

northeast entrance.

 Abundant fossils, mainly corals,

brachiopods, and crinoid fragments;

coarse-grained beds made up almost

entirely of fossils or fossil fragments

are common. Biostratigraphy described in Girty (1899). Hamilton

reported collecting horn corals and

brachiopods in northeast section of

park in 1995 (pers. commun.).

Late Cambrian

(continued)
8

Geologic Period Type of Formation/ Location Reported Fossils in Yellowstone

Mission Canyon Limestone (Madison

Group): well-exposed on south face

of Bannock Peak, Crowfoot Ridge

and in northeast corner of park.

Many beds contain abundant brachiopods and corals; some beds of coquinas

made up of fossil fragments.

Madison Limestone (Madison Group):

exposed in southern portion of park in

Birch Hills and in Snake River area.

Park exposures not yet surveyed for

fossils—no data available.

Pennsylvanian Amsden Formation (early to middle

Pennsylvanian): thickest section is on

Bannock Peak.

Quadrant Sandstone: The type

locality is on Quadrant Mountain.

Tensleep Sandstone: Exposed in

southern portion of park in Birch

Hills and Snake River area.

None.

None.

None.

Permian Shedhorn Sandstone: widely exposed

in Gallatin Range, especially on

Quadrant Mountain and Bannock

Peak.

Phosphoria Formation: limited

exposures in Birch Hills and Snake

River area of the park; equivalent to

Park City Formation in Idaho, Utah,

and Wyoming.

Phosphatized fish bones common in

some beds, especially the more phosphatic sandstone beds.

Remains of Helicoprion, a shark with a

sprial tooth-whorl.

MESOZOIC Exposed only in Gallatin Range and

on east side of Mt. Everts.

Ruppel (1982) reports that extensive

collections of fossils were described and

illustrated by Stanton (1899) and

Knowlton (1899).

Triassic Dinwoody Formation (early): exposed

south of Fawn Pass and on Quadrant

Mountain; possibly present in Birch

Hills and in Snake River area of park.

Woodside Formation (early): a red

colored unit is exposed on Quadrant

Mountain and in upper valley of Fawn

Creek.

Thaynes Formation: exposed near

Fawn Creek and south of Fawn Pass.

Chugwater Formation: known only

from exposures in southern part of

park; outcrops in Birch Hills and in

Snake River area.

 None.

None.

Ruppel reports the age is uncertain, as

no fossils have been found.

Park exposures not yet surved—no

available data.

Fossil Chronology

Mississippian (continued)
Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 9

Geologic Period Type of Formation/ Location Reported Fossils in Yellowstone

Jurassic Jurassic rocks in Fawn Pass and at

head of Fan Creek were described by

Crickmay (1936), who also reported

on fossils collected from them.

Sawtooth Formation (Ellis Group):

marine unit with three lithologic

units; best exposures are in Fawn

Pass, head of Fan Creek, and East

Fork of Fan Creek.

Rierdon Formation (Ellis Group: Late

Jurassic): marine unit exposed in

Fawn Pass, head of Fan Creek and

East Fork of Fan Creek.

Swift Formation (Ellis Group: Late

Jurassic): marine unit exposed in

Fawn Pass and Fan Creek.

Sundance Formation: possibly

exposed in Snake River area along

park’s south boundary.

Morrison Formation: non-marine unit

northwest of Fawn Pass, at head of

Stellaria Creek, and possibly along

park’s south boundary in Snake River

area. In 1995 George Engleman

surveyed Little Quadrant Mountain,

an area identified on park geologic

map as having surficial Morrison

exposures, but he could not find

evidence of any Morrison outcrops or

fossils (Engleman, pers. commun.

1996).

Extensive list reported by Crickmay

(1936) and in Gallatin Range described

by Stanton (1899).

Middle limestone member contains

abundant fossils.

Not as richly fossiliferous as underlying

Sawtooth Formation.

Abundant fragments of fossils all

cemented by calcite.

None.

Upper beds yielded fragments from the

end of a leg bone of a moderately large

dinosaur, but these bone pieces were too

fragmentary to permit more positive

identification (G. Edward Lewis, written

communication 1967); these same beds

contain abundant fossil wood.

Cretaceous Cretaceous sedimentary rocks in

northern park measure nearly 4,000-

feet thick. Kootenai Formation,

Thermopolis Shale, Mowry Shale,

Frontier Sandstone, Cody Shale,

Telegraph Creek Formation, and

Eagle Sandstone are best exposed on

ridge southwest of Electric Peak.

Cody Shale and younger Cretaceous

units are well-exposed on Mount

Everts. Cretaceous rocks were

described by Fraser, Waldrop, and

Hyden (1969).
10

Geologic Period Type of Formation/ Location Reported Fossils in Yellowstone

(Lower) Cretaceous

(Upper) Cretaceous

• Mowry Shale.

• Frontier Sandstone.

• Cody Shale.

• Telegraph Creek Formation.

• Eagle Sandstone.

• Everts Formation: Type section is

on Mount Everts.

• Bacon Ridge Sandstone:

exposed in Snake River area.

• Landslide Creek Formation:

exposed on the northeast

slope of Mount Everts.

Upper part contains distinctive “gastropod limestone” with poorly preserved

molds of gastropod shells.

Ostrea anomioides Meek (Cobban, pers.

commun. 1967).

Some beds in upper part of formation

contain abundant fish scales.

Fish teeth can be found in some of the

sandstone beds.

The middle sandstone member contains

distinct Inoceramus fauna and is much

more fossiliferous than rest of Cody

Shale (Cobban, pers. commun. 1967).

Cody Shale on Mount Everts was

studied in detail by Fox (1939), who

described faunal zones.

Possible remains of plesiosaur and

tortoise come from just below Eagle

Sandstone on Mount Everts.

None.

None.

None.

None.

• Harebell Formation: widely

exposed in Snake River area;

present on Big Game Ridge, Mount

Hancock, Chicken Ridge, Barlow

Peak, and Channel Mountain.

Only from areas just outside park.

CENOZOIC A thick sequence of tertiary volcanic

and volcaniclastic rocks blanket much

of the park.

Volcaniclastic and sedimentary beds

contain abundance paleobotanical

material; there is good potential for

vertebrate fossils from the selayers.

Fossil Chronology

• Kootenai Formation

• Thermopolis Shale: composed of

dirty sandstones and inter-bedded

finer-grained rocks.
Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 11

Geologic Period Type of Formation/ Location Reported Fossils in Yellowstone

Tertiary (Eocene Epoch) Absaroka Volcanic Supergroup.

• Sepulcher Formation: known from

Gallatin Range, especially Sepulcher Mountain and Bighorn Peak;

also exposed on Blacktail Deer

Plateau and just west of Tower

Junction.

• Lamar River Formation: wellexposed on cliffs in Lamar Valley

including Specimen Ridge, along

Soda Butte Creek, and throughout

northeastern park.

• Wapiti Formation: large exposures

in upper Lamar River area, around

Miller Creek and to east boundary

near Hoodoo Basin.

• Langford Formation (Middle

Eocene): Extensively exposed in

park, including Lamar Valley,

Mirror Plateau, Washburn Range,

and throughout peaks east of

Yellowstone Lake; characterized by

William Fritz as one of younger

Absaroka Volcanic Supergroup

units; consists of extensive andesite

pile of tuffaceous sandstone,

volcanic conglomerate pyroclastic

flow deposits, lava flows, and

shallow intrusive bodies.

• Wiggins Formation: extensive

exposures in southeastern portion

of park.

Petrified wood deposits.

Contains 27 layers of petrified forest.

East flank of Absarokas contain

Bridgerian vertebrate fossils.

Contains fossil plant material uncovered

during East Entrance road construction;

all leaf material belongs to genus

Macginitiea, in the sycamore family.

Uintan fossil mammals have been

reported only in areas outside of park.
12

More Recent Fossils

Pleistocene. The primary paleontological resources

from the Pleistocene epoch are fossil diatoms and pollen,

including lacustrine deposits with sedges that date to

13,600 B.P. Fontanallis moss mats and diatomites on the

shore of Mary Bay have been dated to 11,000 B.P. The

windward side of Dot Island and possibly Stevenson

Island have undated Fontanallis and diatomite.

Pleistocene gravels, such as those near the north

boundary of the park, may have some potential for

Pleistocene vertebrate fossils. An elk antler poacher in

the park claimed to find very large bones that were

thought to possibly be mammoth tusk. Paul Miller

provided the park staff with a photo of the alleged site,

which is believed to be within the park. Greg McDonald,

who examined photographs of the alleged mammoth

tusk, concluded that the specimen was travertine (pers.

commun. 1996).

Dave Love collected a bison skull from Rainbow Hot

Spring which Skinner at Harvard identified as Bison

occidentalis and returned to the park museum. It was last

seen hanging on the wall of the old research office before

the Yellowstone Center for Resources moved to its

present location; its current whereabouts are unknown.

A bison skull is exposed in a dune sand cap in the

middle of the west side of Stevenson Island, which is

lower in elevation than the north and south ends of the

island. Paleosols (fossil soils) have also been reported on

the island (Hamilton pers. commun. 1996).

Holocene. One of the most significant paleontological

resources in Yellowstone is the subfossil material of 36

mammal species that were collected from ten stratigraphic units in Lamar Cave. This sequence of faunal

remains provides information related to late Holocene

mammalian diversity, with the oldest specimen dated to

1695 B.P. Except for the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster), all of the species found in the cave are present in

Yellowstone today. The presence of the wolf (Canis

lupus) in late Holocene deposits supports the belief that

wolves have been part of the Yellowstone ecosystem for

hundreds of years.

The paleontological material from Lamar Cave

suggests the potential for additional fossil material from

other caves in the park. At present the superintendent has

closed all caves. Accounts dating back 120 years

indicate that a sinkhole on Mammoth Terraces contained

some faunal remains, and Hamilton has reported seeing

bones there. The sinkhole must be entered using a ladder

and in recent years has been barricaded.

After bones found in McCartney Cave in the parade

ground across from the Superintendent’s house and

accessioned into the park collection were apparently

discarded, Hamilton collected more in 1982. Larry

Agenbroad at Northern Arizona University C14 dated

(collagen) the material, probably Bison, to about 100

years ago (Hamilton pers. commun. 1996). Because of

high carbon dioxide (CO2

) and radon gas levels, an air

pack is required to enter the cave.

The Powerline fossil locality near Le Hardy Rapids

preserves Holocene silicified plant fragments (Carex) and

other leaf impressions that have been dated to before

7280 B.P. The material can be found on the surface near

the road with log barricade (powerline access), across a

dry creek approximately one-half mile upstream from the

rapids (Hamilton pers. commun. 1996).

TAXONOMY

Paleobotany

Nearly 150 species of fossil plants fromYellowstone have been described (exclusive of

palynological specimens), including ferns, horsetail

rushes, conifers and many deciduous plants such as

sycamores, walnuts, oaks, chestnuts, soapberries, maples,

and hickories. Seqouia is the dominant conifer. This

type of assemblage reflects a warm temperature subtropical environment (Dorf 1980).

The first fossil plants from Yellowstone were taken

from Elk Creek by the early Hayden Survey parties and

submitted to Lesquereux, who believed them to be

Eocene (1872).

In his report in the Hayden Survey in 1878, Holmes

made the first reference to Yellowstone’s fossil forests.

The report identified the petrified trees located on the

north slope of Amethyst Mountain opposite the mouth of

Soda Butte Creek, about eight miles southeast of Junction

Butte.

Knowlton identified 147 species of fossil plants from

Yellowstone, 81 of them new to science, and three stages

of Tertiary fossil flora. The oldest (79 species) were

equivalent to the lower Eocene Fort Union flora and

associated with acid breccias; the intermediate included

30 species; and the youngest (70 species) were associated

with the basic rocks.

Fossil Chronology
Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 13

Knowlton believed the most remarkable fossil forest

was on the northwest end of Specimen Ridge, where it

covers several acres on a steep hillside about opposite the

mouth of Slough Creek, a mile southeast of Junction

Butte. It was first brought to scientific attention by E. C.

Alderson of Bozeman, Montana, who showed it to

Knowlton in 1887. Most of the trees project well above

the surface, including hundreds of trunks from 1 to 8 feet

in diameter and from 1 to 20 feet high, with the tallest

more than 40 feet. Just beneath the largest known tree in

Yellowstone (26.5 feet by 12 feet), which contains large

roots, are two trees that are 9 feet in circumference and

20 feet high. Fossilized bark is preserved at this locality.

Most petrified wood and other plant fossils come

from Eocene deposits, which occur in many northern

portions of the park, including the Gallatin Range,

Specimen Creek, Tower, Crescent Hill, Elk Creek,

Specimen Ridge, Bison Peak, Barronett Peak, Abiathar

Peak, Mount Norris, Cache Creek, and Miller Creek.

Petrified wood is also found along streams in areas east

of Yellowstone Lake. The most accessible fossil forest is

west of Tower Falls (Soldier’s Station, Wylie Camp).

Petrified wood can be seen today in the foundation of

Roosevelt Lodge.

The Smithsonian Institute holds the primary research

collections of paleobotanical specimens from

Yellowstone. The collection includes fossil plants

collected by the Hayden surveys. Erling Dorf’s paleobotanical collections were transferred from Princeton to the

Smithsonian.

Two new Late Cretaceous fossil plant locations were

discovered on Mount Everts in 1997 by Bianca Cortez.

Preliminary fieldwork has yielded a variety of deciduous

leaves, including willow-like leaf (similar to Salix), and a

fern. A single willow-like leaf was found in association

with the plesiosaur remains excavated in 1997.

In 1994 fossil plants were discovered in Yellowstone

during the East Entrance road construction project, which

uncovered five areas preserving fossil sycamore leaves.

Paleobotanists William Fritz (Georgia State University),

Kirk Johnson (Denver Museum of Natural History) and

Scott Wing (Smithsonian) visited the sites and fossils

collected by them were put in the park museum collection.

Fossil pollen has been analyzed by Baker (1976)

from various sites in the park, including Buckbean Fen

and Blacktail Pond. Deglaciation was determined to be

approximately 14,500 B.P. (Gennett and Baker 1986).

Fossil Invertebrates

Fossil invertebrates are abundant in Paleozoic rocks

in the park and the limestones associated with the

Madison Group are especially fossiliferous. Numerous

“type” specimens are retained in collections at the

Smithsonian and the Yale Peabody Museum. However,

little attention has been given fossil invertebrates since

the work of Walcott, Girty, and Stanton in the late 1800s.

The diversity of fossil invertebrates reported in the

park includes:

• Corals: the Jefferson Formation (Devonian), Lodgepole Limestone and Mission Canyon Limestone

(Mississippian).

• Bryozoans: the Bighorn Dolomite (Ordovician).

• Brachiopods: the Flathead Sandstone and Snowy

Range Formation (Cambrian), Bighorn Dolomite

(Ordovician), Three Forks Formation (Devonian),

Lodgepole Limestone and Mission Canyon Limestone

(Mississippian).

Late Cretaceous plant fossil in northern Yellowstone.
14

• Trilobites: the Meaghar Limestone (Middle Cambrian), Pilgrim Limestone and Snowy Range Formation (Late Cambrian).

• Gastropods: the Kootenai (Cretaceous).

• Crinoids: the Bighorn Dolomite (Ordovician).

• Pleistocene insects: Indian Creek Pond (Elias 1988).

Additional surveys are needed to document the

distribution and diversity of fossil invertebrates in

Yellowstone, and to increase our understanding of the

park’s stratigraphy and paleoecology.

Fossil Vertebrates

The lack of paleontological research has lead to the

belief that fossils are rare in Yellowstone. Fossil remains

of vertebrates are rare, but perhaps only because of

insufficient field research. A one-day survey by a small

group led by Jack Horner resulted in the discovery of a

piece of turtle shell, the skeleton of a Cretaceous plesiosaur, and a dinosaur eggshell fragment. The only other

fossil reptile remains known from the park are a few

dinosaur bone fragments.

A cochliodont crushing tooth plate was discovered in

the limestones of the Madison Group by a paleontological survey team during 1997. Cochliodonts were a

primitive group of holocephalian chondrichthys fish

common during the Mississippian. The Yellowstone

specimen was identified by Michael Hansen and Barbara

Stahl (pers. commun., 1997). According to Stahl, the

crushing tooth appears similar to those identified as

“Helodus.”

Other fossil fish are present in both Paleozoic and

Mesozoic sediments, with phosphatized fish bones in the

Permian Shedhorn Sandstone, fish scales reported in the

Cretaceous Mowry Shale, and fish teeth discovered in the

Cretaceous Frontier Formation.

No paleontological surveys for fossil vertebrates have

been reported for Yellowstone’s Tertiary rocks. The

extensive exposures of Wapiti and Wiggins formations

that occur in the Absaroka Range are rich in fossil

vertebrates outside of the park, but these units are

somewhat isolated. These units exposed in the Hoodoo

Basin area are recommended for systematic fossil

surveys.

A possible Pleistocene horse, Equus nebraskensis,

was reported by Lewis in 1939 and has been assigned the

catalog number YPM-PU 14673 (Malcolm McKenna,

pers. commun., 1996).

There is a possible Bison occidentalis skull from the

Recommended Taxonomy Projects

• Complete a thorough literature review and

record all fossil taxa identified from the

park.

• Inventory all Yellowstone fossil collections

in the park museum and outside repositories.

• Identify any “type” fossil specimens from

the park.

• Produce a paleo-taxa list of all known

park fossil specimens.

• Create a paleo-taxa database including all

known park fossils and associated data.

Middle Cambrian trilobite Ogygopsis cf.

klotzi in Yellowstone Museum Colletction.

Taxonomy
Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 15

park. Bison have become smaller as the species has

evolved, with Bison bison antiquus the largest, Bison

occidentalis intermediate, and Bison bison bison the most

recent and smallest. Hawken’s Bison occidentalis was

discovered in northeast Wyoming and dated to 6470 B.P.

There are various other reports of Bison from the park

including: McCartney’s Cave and Stephenson’s Island

(Wayne Hamilton, pers. commun., 1996).

The most significant collection of fossil vertebrates

are the Holocene subfossil mammals recovered from

Lamar Cave (Barnosky 1994).

Trace Fossils

Tillman (1893) provided the first report of trace

fossils in the park. Evidence of channeling and burrowing of worms or other insects occur in some petrified tree

bark. Deiss (1936) reports Cruziana trace fossils in the

Wolsey Shale.

LOCALITIES

Fossil localities have been known in Yellowstone

prior to the Hayden surveys. The long ridge

separating Lamar Valley and Mirror Plateau has been

referred to as Specimen Ridge since before 1870. The

name was probably established by prospectors who were

aware that the area contained an abundance of amethysts

and silicified wood (Whittlesley 1988).

As part of the 1996–97 Yellowstone Paleontological

Survey, the park was divided into paleontological

resource regions that reflect areas of geologic or stratigraphic affinities. The boundaries of these regions do not

correspond to the administrative boundaries established

by the park. Fossil localities within each paleontological

region are identified in quotation marks.

Gallatin Region

The Gallatin Region is an extremely large mountainous area in the northwest part of the park that includes

some of the best exposures of Paleozoic and Mesozoic

sedimentary rocks. Mount Holmes is the southernmost

point of this region. Potentially fossiliferous outcrops

occur throughout this mountain range extending to the

northern and western boundaries of the park.

Paleozoic sediments are widespread throughout the

Gallatin Range, including units in Wolsey Shale,

Meagher Limestone, Pilgrim Limestone, Snowy Range

Formation, Bighorn Dolomite, Jefferson Formation, and

Madison Group. Mesozoic units include Ellis Group,

Morrison Formation, Mowry Shale, Frontier Shale and

other unidentified Cretaceous units. The Sepulcher

Formation is the only known fossil-bearing unit from the

Tertiary epoch of this region.

“Specimen Creek”: The first known map of the

Gallatin Petrified Forest is found in a 1935 report,

“Petrified Sequoia Trees in the Northwest Corner of

Yellowstone National Park” by Dr. Paul A. Young of

Bozeman. He identified and mapped 21 standing trees in

the Gallatin/Specimen Creek area and noted the discovery of leaf impressions of poplar, willow, and magnolia

trees. Most of the previous paleobotanical fieldwork had

been conducted in the Lamar River Valley.

Andrews (1939) surveyed the Gallatin region of the

park in the 1930s, collecting specimens in the Gallatin

Petrified Forest in 1936. He reported at least 12 successive layers of fossil forest around Bighorn Peak, predomiPetrified stump in Lamar Valley.
16 Localities

Gallatin Region

Mt. Everts Region

Tower Region

Northeast Region

Lamar Region

Upper Lamar Region

Eastern Boundary Region

Southeast Region

Snake River Region

Birch Hills Region

Lakes

Roads

Yellowstone Paleontological Survey

Regional Fossil Resource Map

0 10 20 miles

0 5 10 15 20 kilometers

N

W E

S
Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 17

nantly consisting of Sequoia magnifica, and fossil

impressions of S. langsdorfi along Bighorn Creek. The

petrified trees are preserved in the Eocene Sepulcher

Formation.

“Crowfoot Ridge”: The Crowfoot Ridge section

provides the most complete and best exposed section of

Cambrian rocks between the Flathead Sandstone and the

Pilgrim Limestone in the park and contains more Upper

Cambrian fossils than any other section in Montana. The

fossil brachiopods from the Flathead Sandstone in this

area are the only known fossils from this unit in Montana.

“Three Rivers Peak”: Excellent exposures of the

Snowy Range Formation and the Pilgrim Limestone

occur on Three Rivers Peak at the head of the Gallatin

River. Algae, brachiopods, and trilobites are known from

the Snowy Range Formation and fossil fragments from

the Pilgram Limestone.

“Mount Holmes” (Trilobite Point): Mt. Holmes

contains good exposures of Cambrian units, including

Wolsey Shale, Meagher Limestone, Pilgrim Limestone

and Snowy Range Formation. These units also occur on

adjacent Dome Mountain and Three Rivers Peak. In

1878, William Henry Holmes named a 10,003 foot high

point in the Gallatin Range of Yellowstone “Trilobite

Point.” A sedimentary exposure on the lower eastern

summit of Mt. Holmes contains trilobite fossils.

The Gallatin Region has many other localities,

including “Fawn Pass” and “Fan Creek,” that occur near

exposures of Jurassic strata and are often mentioned in

regard to the presence of fossils.

Mount Everts Region

This region is dominated by Mount Everts, where a

thick sequence of Cretaceous marine and non-marine

rocks are well exposed. The north entrance road in

Gardner Canyon marks the western extent of this region.

Its western and northern faces have outcrops of Landslide

Creek Formation, Everts Formation, Eagle Sandstone,

Telegraph Creek Formation, Cody Shale and Frontier

Sandstone; on its eastern slope are small outcrops of

Madison Group (Mississippian), Ellis Group and

possible Morrison Formation (Jurassic) rocks.

Although the stratigraphy of Mount Everts is not well

established, preliminary surveys suggest the potential for

significant paleontological discoveries. Numerous fossil

plant and vertebrate localities have been recently identified on Mount Everts. During 1997, Bianca Cortez

discovered two new fossil leaf localities that have yielded

fern, willow and other broadleaf fossils. The remains of

an unidentified plesiosaur, a turtle carapace, and a

dinosaur eggshell fragment have also been recovered

from Mount Everts (Jack Horner, pers. commun., 1995).

A systematic collection of fossils from this area would

assist efforts in interpreting the Late Cretaceous geology

of Yellowstone.

Tower Region

This region, which includes Tower Falls, Tower

Junction, Elk Creek, Crescent Hill and the northeast face

of Prospect Peak, contains petrified trees, large exposures

of Sepulcher Formation and small outcrops of Lamar

River Formation.

“Petrified Tree”: This fossil is located 1.5 miles east

of Tower Junction, just east of Yancey Creek at the end of

a small spur road off the Grand Loop Road. After

souvenir hunters destroyed one petrified tree in the area,

the remaining one was enclosed by an iron fence in 1907.

“Yancey’s Forest”: A group of fossil stumps below

Lost Lake, approximately 1.5 miles by road from Tower

Falls Ranger Station.

“Roosevelt Lodge”: Pieces of petrified wood are

incorporated into the foundation of the Roosevelt Lodge.

Lamar Region

The Lamar Region is limited to the ridge on the south

side of the Lamar River, and includes well-exposed

Lamar River Formation and Langford Formation. Small

exposures of Sepulcher Formation occur at the northwest

end of “Specimen Ridge.” Its fossiliferous exposures

extend from the northwest edge of “Specimen Ridge” to

Timothy Creek just south of Mirror Plateau and include

“Amethyst Mountain,” “Fossil Forest,” and “Mirror

Plateau.”

“Amethyst Mountain/Specimen Ridge”: This

locality is 10 miles long, lies 2,000 feet above the valley,

and exposes 27 successive layers of fossil forest.

“Fossil Forest”: The paleontological significance of

the region comes from the presence of standing fossil tree

trunks and a stratigraphic succession of at least two

dozen fossil forests that were first recognized by

Knowlton (1914). “Fossil Forest” has been extensively

studied by Dorf and other paleobotanists.

Northeast Region

The Northeast Region extends from Buffalo Plateau
18

to the extreme northeast corner of the park, including the

area north of the Lamar River and north of Soda Butte

Creek. The Buffalo Plateau, especially the east edge near

Slough Creek, contains fossiliferous units, with middle

Cambrian rocks overlain by the Snowy Range Formation.

Ordovician and Devonian units occur above the Snowy

Range Formation and the section is capped by the Eocene

Langford Formation.

The ridge between Slough Creek and Pebble Creek,

including Bison Peak and Mount Hornaday, is covered by

large exposures of Lamar River Formation and Wiggins

Formation. Standing fossil trunks and petrified wood is

reported from the area around Bison Peak.

Barronette Peak and Meridian Peak have exposures

of Cambrian Snowy Range Formation and the Mississippian Madison Group and are capped by Lamar River

Formation. Barronette Peak has standing petrified tree

trunks.

The Pebble Creek campground provides fossiliferous

exposures of the Madison Group. This unit is easily

accessible and should be monitored for impacts from

park visitors.

“Lamar Cave”: A sequence of late Holocene faunal

remains, including 36 mammal species, was collected

from 10 stratigraphic units in this cave, which is located

in the northern part of the park.

Upper Lamar Region

The Upper Lamar Region includes the area east of

the Lamar River and south of Soda Butte Creek and

extends to the east boundary. The Eocene Wiggins

Formation is extensively exposed near the east boundary,

including Hoodoo Basin, Saddle Mountain, Upper Lamar

River, Calfee Creek, Mount Norris, and Amphitheater

Mountain. Important fossil vertebrate assemblages have

been found in this unit just east of the park. This area

should be considered a high priority for future paleontological surveys.

The Lamar River Formation is widely exposed along

Miller Creek, Cache Creek, and on Cache Mountain,

where petrified wood and stumps are reported. At least

six levels of standing stumps could be identified at the

petrified forest located about four miles above the mouth

of Miller Creek, on the north side, at an elevation of

about 7,300 feet.

Limited exposures of the Mississipian Madison

Group occur just northeast of Soda Butte and on the west

slope of Abiathar Peak. The Cambrian Snowy Range

Formation is present on the north slope of Abiathar Peak.

“Cache Creek”: Petrified wood deposits covering

several acres are located about seven miles above the

mouth of Cache Creek, on the south bank. The wood is

scattered on a slope that extends for 800 feet, with most

of the trunks standing upright only two to three feet

above the surface. The largest stump is six-feet tall and

four feet in diameter.

“The Thunderer”: This locality bears numerous

fossil trunks, most standing upright about two feet above

the surface.

Eastern Boundary Region

The Middle Eocene Langford Formation, which is

widely exposed in the area between the park’s eastern

boundary and Yellowstone Lake, includes volcaniclastic

rocks (approximately 46 million years B.P.) that contain

paleobotanical specimens. Five sites identified at the

“Lake Butte” locality have yielded both fossil leaf

impressions and petrified wood. All of the leaf material

was identified as sycamore of the genus Macginitiea.

Accumulations of transported petrified wood can be

found along the banks of the streams and rivers on the

eastern boundary Paleontological surveys for the

sources of this material, both within and outside the park,

have not yet been done.

Southeast Region

Large exposures of the Eocene Wiggins Formation

occur in the southeast corner of the park on Two Ocean

Plateau and near the Trident. According to Aubrey

Haines, a ranger named Harry Trischman indicated that

he found “sea shells” on the Trident during the 1930s.

Although fossils have not been documented from this

area, they are known from adjacent areas just outside of

the park.

Snake River Region

Large exposures of Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary rocks occur in the Snake River area. Two exposures

of potentially fossiliferous rocks occur along the park’s

southern boundary. One of them forms a triangle

between the south slope of Mount Sheridan, the Harebell

Patrol Cabin, and along the south boundary to just east of

the South Entrance. This area contains exposures of

Madison Limestone (Mississippian), Phosphoria Formation (Permian), possible Morrison Formation (Jurassic),

Mowry Shale (Lower Cretaceous), and Frontier FormaLocalities
Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 19

tion, Cody Shale and Harebell Formation (Upper Cretaceous).

The other more eastern and slightly larger triangular

exposure extends between Channel Mountain on the

north, to just west of Fox Creek Patrol Cabin, and along

the south boundary to the Harebell Patrol Cabin. This

section contains exposures of the Morrison Formation

(Jurassic), Mowry Shale (Lower Cretaceous), and

Frontier Formation, Cody Shale and Harebell Formation

(Upper Cretaceous).

Birch Hills Region

Birch Hills, which has limited outcrops of Gallatin

Limestone (Cambrian), Madison Limestone (Mississippian), and Phosphoria Formation (Permian). is the only

region in the southwest part of the park that has the

potential for fossiliferous exposures. The area has not

been surveyed for paleontological resources and no

specimens have been reported from this area. A systematic survey is recommended.

INTERPRETATION

I

t is believed that mountain man Jim Bridger’s

report of Yellowstone’s fossil trees in the 1830s

was their first sighting by a white man. His account of

the Yellowstone’s Fossil Forest may have become

embellished over the years, but it provides an interesting

interpretation of the cultural history associated with the

fossil resource. According to one version of his tale,

“...peetrified birds a sittin’ on peetrified trees a singin’

peetrified songs in the peetrified air. The flowers and

leaves and grass was peetrified, and they shone in a

peculiar moonlight. That was peetrified too.” (Chapman

and Chapman 1935).

Current Efforts

“Interpretive planning documents say nothing about

paleontological resources,” according to former

Yellowstone Chief Naturalist Ron Thoman. “There is

currently almost nothing done in media or personal

services interpretation.” The easiest places for visitors to

view Yellowstone fossils are the petrified tree stump

displayed in front of Albright Visitor Center, the standing

stump in the Tower area, and the petrified wood in the

foundation of Roosevelt Lodge. A small exhibit of fossil

leaves from the East Entrance road construction was

temporarily displayed on the second floor of the Albright

Visitor Center in 1994.

During the 1996 season, I observed two interpretations of paleontological resources: a park staff member

mentioned the fossil forests during an evening slide

program on “The Geology of Yellowstone”; and a TW

guide mentioned the Yellowstone Petrified Forest as

horseback riders passed the fenced petrified tree in the

Tower area.

Possible Themes

Fossils, paleontology, and the history of life on earth

provide exciting opportunities for interpretation. Both

children and adults are interested by fossils. If the public

was aware that dinosaur remains have been discovered in

Yellowstone, there would be considerable visitor inquiries about them.

Public misconceptions, media misinformation,

controversial scientific opinions, and issues associated

with evolution and geologic time can present obstacles

when interpreting paleontology. This has frequently been

the case in other parks with fossil resources, such as

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Badlands

National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, Fossil

Butte National Monument, Hagerman Fossil Beds

National Monument, John Day Fossil Beds National

Monument, and Petrified Forest National Park. Strategies

related to paleontological interpretation have been

discussed during previous National Park Service Paleontological Resource Conferences. Specific training

Recommended Mapping Projects

• Establish a database for all known fossil

localities within the park.

• Establish a standardized system for

cataloging and identifying park fossil

localities with cross-references for any

previously used numbers or site names.

• Map all fossil localities with GPS and

incorporate the data into Yellowstone’s GIS

System.

• Use digital mapping system to generate a

paleontological locality map for the park.
20

associated with interpreting fossils has been conducted at

many of the NPS units that preserve fossil resources.

A variety of interpretive themes could be developed

for Yellowstone’s paleontological resources. Pick a

moment in time when Yellowstone’s story is best told.

The Yellowstone story is dynamic and not yet finished.

The fossil record of life provides evidence of the ancient

wildlife and ancient forests of Yellowstone. The fossilized remains of plants and animals hold some of the

secrets of Yellowstone’s past that are yet to be discovered.

Here are some examples of possible themes:

• Biological History of Yellowstone. The public’s

interest in the current wildlife and vegetation of

Yellowstone may indicate their potential interest in

the ancient wildlife and forests of the area. More

than 200 species of fossil plants are known from the

Eocene epoch (approximately 50 million years ago).

This resource, including fossil wood, leaves, seeds,

cones, and pollen, provides an opportunity to

compare the ancient forests with the extant forest.

What would the public’s response be to learning that

before the grizzlies, wolves and bison, the

Yellowstone area was home to giant reptiles, including dinosaurs and the marine reptile called the

plesiosaur?

• Geological History of Yellowstone. Fossils provide

information that help geologists to understand past

geologic events, processes, and environmental

conditions. Fossils can yield information related to

the depositional environment of a rock unit (lake,

stream, ocean beach, desert, etc.). The presence of

fossils in a particular layer and the changes in fossils

over the successive layers can provide valuable

information about ancient Yellowstone.

• Paleoecology of Yellowstone. The short-term

changes evident in Yellowstone, such as those

resulting from geothermal activity and forest fires,

can markedly effect the visitor’s view of the park and

provide for continued sources of public inquiry. The

fossil record, dating back many millions of years, can

assist the interpreter’s efforts to present Yellowstone

as a dynamic and naturally evolving area. A greater

understanding of Yellowstone’s past and how the

recent setting has evolved may increase the public’s

appreciation for the park.

• Wolves in Yellowstone. Although some people

object to the release of wolves, many park visitors

support the wolf reintroduction. The fossil evidence

from Lamar Cave provides some of the strongest

proof that wolves are a natural component of the

Yellowstone’s ecosystem.

Some fossil material from Yellowstone, especially the

fossilized leaves, are exceptionally well preserved. Some

Interpretation

Dinosaur bone fragments in the

Yellowstone Museum Collection.
Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 21

of these specimens would be ideal for use in an exhibit.

However, it is important to recognize that increasing

public awareness of and interest in fossils should be

accompanied by information about resource protection.

Specific fossil locations should not be given in interpretive contacts or other information, including slides or

photos that would reveal the location of sensitive fossil

sites. Wayside exhibits should not be placed where they

could direct the public to fossil exposures.

PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCE

MANAGEMENT

National Park Service Policy

Fossils are non-renewable resources that require

specific actions for appropriate management.

Paleontological resource management on federal lands

has gained considerable attention over the past decade,

including recognition as an independent discipline by the

scientific community and land management agencies.

Within the National Park Service, the Paleontological

Resources Management Program received initial direction through the Natural Resources Management Guidelines (NPS-77). The NPS program objectives for

paleontological resources management call on the park

to:

• identify paleontological resources within NPS units;

• evaluate the significance of those resources;

• adequately protect significant resources so that their

historical value is not degraded; and

• use research to support management objectives.

National Park Service Management Policies state

that “Management actions will be taken to prevent

illegal collecting [of fossil resources] and may be

taken to prevent damage from natural processes such

as erosion. Protection may include construction of

shelters over specimens for interpretation in situ,

stabilization in the field or collection, preparation,

and placement of specimens in museum collections.

The localities and geologic setting of specimens will

be adequately documented when specimens are

collected...Protection may also include, where

necessary, the salvage collection of threatened

specimens that are scientifically significant.”

Specific management actions that are recommended

in NPS-77 for paleontological sites include:

• Monitoring: Periodic re-examination of a known

fossil locality to assess stability and need for management action. Photodocumentation is essential to

monitor changes.

• Cyclic Prospecting: In high erosion areas, periodic

surveys should be undertaken to check for the

appearance of new fossil material at the surface.

• Stabilization/Reburial: If excavation of fossil

material is not recommended or feasible at a particular time, reburial may be utilized as an interim

measure. Reburial can assist in slowing down

erosion and the destruction of fossil material.

Stabilization of a fossil can be accomplished through

a wide range of paleontological techniques and

methodologies.

• Excavation: The removal and collection of a fossil

from a rock unit may be the appropriate management

action in many cases. Depending upon the scientific

significance, immediate threats or other variables, the

careful collection of a fossil specimen may be

warranted. Appropriate collecting permits must be

secured with all collections.

• Closure: A fossil locality may be better managed

through the closure of the local area. Closed areas

may be completely withdrawn from public use or

Recommendations for Interpretation

• Provide paleontological training to the park’s

interpretive staff.

• Develop and incorporate paleontological

resources into park interpretive planning

documents.

• Develop interpretive themes associated with

Yellowstone’s paleontological resources.

• Consider developing an interpretive exhibit

incorporating Yellowstone’s paleontological

resources.
22

restricted to ranger-led activities or research purposes.

• Patrols: Significant fossil sites may require periodic

checks by park staff or patrol rangers. Patrols may be

important in preventing or reducing theft and

vandalism.

Management of paleontological resources should be

distinguished from the management of archeological

resources. Paleontological resources are typically

recognized as natural resources and should be managed

accordingly. The Archeological Resources Protection Act

(1979) and the NPS Cultural Resources Management

Guidelines (NPS-28) provide guidance for cases when

paleontological specimens occur in an archeological

context.

Except for a few parks, fossils have often been a

forgotten resource within the NPS. Limited funding and

staff and insufficient legislation have left fossils to fend

for themselves. The lack of basic data involving significance, distribution, threats, and research needs is not

sound management.

Obtaining Baseline Data

The inventory and monitoring of paleontological

resources serves as the foundation of any paleontological

resource management program. Without the baseline

data available from a paleontological survey, any further

actions or management decisions would be based upon

insufficient information.

During the summer of 1996, a field team of paleontologists and students initiated a paleontological survey to

identify and document the geographic and stratigraphic

distribution of fossils in the park. More than 20 stratigraphic units have been identified that possess significant

paleontological resources. Fossils have been identified

across the entire northern portion of the park, within the

Absaroka Range along the eastern side, and in the Snake

River area in the south. To map the fossil localities more

precisely, GPS measurements were obtained at several

sites. This data will be incorporated into the park’s GIS

system.

To complete the survey, the following information is

needed:

• Geographic data on fossil localities, including

topographic coordinates, UTMs, the geographic

extent of the locality, maps, GPS measurements, etc.

• Stratigraphic data related to the geology of the

localities, including the formations or subunits and

the age of the units.

• Paleontological data related to the identification of

paleotaxa present at the localities.

• Geologic data related to the lithology or the depositional environment of the fossiliferous units.

All fossil localities should be documented using both

ground and aerial photos wherever possible. Ground

photos should include close-up details showing the

fossils, sedimentary structures, and general setting of the

locality. Aerial photos should be at a scale appropriate to

the physical characteristics of the locality.

Natural erosion is a principle threat to all paleontological resources. Fossils exposed at the surface are

subjected to physical and chemical forces that can often

be destructive. Continued inventory and monitoring of

fossil areas subject to significant erosion is recommended.

Construction and visitor use may cause erosion,

although in some cases these activities may also expose

additional fossil resources. In 1994, the East Entrance

road construction was altered slightly because of a

Recommended Management Actions

• Assign one staff member from each district

to coordinate paleontological resource

management and research.

• Continue inventory and monitoring of the

park’s fossil resources.

• Identify threats to paleontological resources.

• Adopt recommended RMP project statements for paleontological resources.

• Provide paleontological resource management training at the park level or by

participation in the NPS Paleontological

Resource Management Training, which is

offered every two years.

Paleontological Resource Management
Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 23

significant fossil plant discovery. Fossil sycamore leaves

from this site were well-preserved and extremely large in

size. Information gained from this site supports research

into the Eocene volcanic deposition and climate history.

Two specific project statements related to paleontological resources were drafted by Santucci in 1996 and

recommended to replace the general and outdated project

statement in the currently approved Yellowstone Resource Management Plan (Appendix C). The first

statement pertains to the inventory and photo-documentation of Yellowstone’s paleontological resources. The

second project statement addresses the issues associated

with paleontological resource protection.

Fossil Resource Protection

The problem of human damage to Yellowstone’s

fossil forests was recognized early in the park’s history.

“Although easily reached by a fairly good wagon road,

which forms the mail route to the little mining camp of

Cooke, Montana, the locality is seldom visited, save by

those vandals who have carted away its treasures by the

wagon load to be shipped to the dealer in ‘specimens’,”

Walter Weed reported in a 1892 issue of the Columbia

College, School of Mines Quarterly. “When first

discovered in 1878 the beds of breccia contained great

quantities of agate, amethyst and chalcedony, but these

minerals are now rarely seen, having been carried away

by visitors in search of ‘specimens’. In recent years even

the fossil trees themselves have been taken away when

small enough to be readily transported.”

An iron fence was placed around the petrified tree in

the Tower area in 1907. There were originally two

standing petrified trees in this area. One was dismantled

by souvenir hunters and the enclosure was designed to

protect the other standing tree.

A principal reason for adding land outside the

original northwest park boundary was to protect the

Gallatin fossil forest, which was pillaged by specimen

hunters after the opening of the Gallatin River road in

1911 provided access to the fossil-rich exposures. But

the establishment of a ranger station in that corner of the

park did little to stop the theft. One of the first actions

taken by park management to reduce the illegal removal

of fossils was the closure of the public campground at the

mouth of Specimen Creek. Later the ranger station was

also removed. Then in the 1960s, returning the “addition” to the U.S. Forest Services was seriously considered

as a way to get rid of the problem (Aubrey Haines, pers.

commun., 1996).

In his 1935 report, “Petrified Sequoia Trees in the

Northwest Corner of Yellowstone National Park,” Dr.

Paul A. Young concluded, “May the Officials of

Yellowstone National Park please guard these secrets

until they can adequately protect the Sequoias.”

Michael Arct (Loma Linda University), who has

studied the Yellowstone petrified forests for 18 years, has

observed human impacts on the fossil trees in the Gallatin

portion of the park (Arct, pers. commun., 1996).

Discussions with Dr. Roger D. Hoggan, Chairman of

the Department of Natural Sciences at Rick’s College in

Rexburg, Idaho, whose students visit the Gallatin

Petrified Forest as part of their studies, indicated the

school’s commitment to resource protection during field

trips. Environmental ethics is part of the curriculum, the

faculty are familiar with Yellowstone’s natural resource

policies, and students are made aware that collection of

any natural features is prohibited. Dr. Hoggan would

also like to see student internship opportunities at

Yellowstone similar to those which have been used for

paleontological resources projects at Badlands and

Petrified Forest National Parks. Students could assist in

inventorying Yellowstone fossil resources by mapping

and photodocumenting localities, obtaining baseline data

Recommendations for Fossil Protection

• Assess the commercial value of the petrified

wood and other paleontological resources of

Yellowstone.

• Review park records over the past decade

related to paleontological theft or vandalism.

• Provide paleontological resource protection

training for staff working in park areas with

fossiliferous exposures.

• Establish interagency cooperative efforts to

protect fossils on the federal lands in the

Yellowstone area.

• Conduct undercover investigations involving

local rock shops, fossil dealers, and souvenir stores for possession of Yellowstone

fossils.
24

that is essential for paleontological resource management.

The increasing public interest in fossils and corresponding escalation in the commercial fossil market

create additional pressures in managing park fossils.

Although the current baseline data is insufficient to assess

paleontological theft and vandalism in Yellowstone,

recent investigations have demonstrated that both casual

and commercial illegal collecting is occurring in NPS

areas. Fossiliferous exposures of the Madison Group in

the Pebble Creek campground are easily accessible and

should be monitored for visitor impacts. Park researchers

need to be involved in an effort to determine the level of

fossil theft. David A. Kubichek, Assistant U.S. Attorney,

a dynamic speaker with experience in paleontological

resource theft cases, would be effective in a training

program on paleontological resource investigations and

could be consulted if a fossil theft case occurs in the park.

RESEARCH

According to the National Park Service NaturalResources Management Guidelines (NPS-77),

“Paleontological research by the academic community

will be encouraged and facilitated under the terms of a

permit....”

In Yellowstone, a Collecting Permit is required for

research that includes field collection of fossils. A

Special Use Permit (Form 10-114) is required for any

other research. The Special Park Uses Guidelines (NPS53) provide details on the issuance of permits.

Current Research

The following descriptions of recent research projects

related to Yellowstone’s paleontological resources are

based on the Investigators’ Annual Reports. See Appendix D for a list of the principal investigators’ addresses.

Arct, Michael. “Dendrochronology of the Yellowstone

Fossil Forest”: Map petrified wood localities and

interpret ecological and depositional histories of

various fossil forests using annual growth ring series,

taxonomy, taphonomy, and rock descriptions. Attempts have been made to use botanical features from

the Specimen Creek area to determine

stratigraphically equivalent horizons at an exposure

1.3 km to the southeast.

Barnosky, Elizabeth Hadly. “Resiliency and stability of

Holocene fauna on Yellowstone’s northern range”:

Identify paleontological sites in Yellowstone likely to

contribute to a continuous record of the prehistoric

fauna of the area; excavate and analyze the paleontological resources and interpret them in light of climate

change, biogeographic change, and resiliency of

modern biota; discern taphonomic pathways of fossil

accumulations through small mammal trapping and

analysis of raptor pellets and carnivore scats.

Cannon, Kenneth. “Archeological investigations in

Yellowstone National Park”: Develop a collection for

identification of archeologically recovered faunal

material.

Cannon, Kenneth “A review of the archeological and

paleontological evidence for the prehistoric presence

of wolf and related prey species in the Northern and

Central Rockies physiographic province”: Review all

available paleontological and archeological evidence

from the published and unpublished literature for

evidence of wolves and prey species.

Elias, Scott A. “Later Quaternary environments and

insect fossils, Yellowstone National Park”: Delineate

late Quaternary environments and insect species

composition of the Yellowstone National Park region.

Attention will be directed toward the intervals of the

end of the last glaciation and the Holocene. Fossil

insects from lake shore exposures along Yellowstone

Lake and from archeological studies will be examined.

Fritz, William J. “Investigations of Lake Butte Fossil

Locality, Eocene, Absaroka Volcanic Supergroup”:

Investigate the depositional environments, stratigraphy, and paleoclimates of the “fossil forests” preserved in the Eocene Absaroka Volcanic Supergroup

with a focus on newly discovered fossils in volcanic

conglomerate and sandstone of the Langford Formation between Lake Butte and Sylvan Pass.

Jones, Timothy. “Charcoal production of different

ecosystems in Yellowstone National Park”: Compare

modern forest floor debris after a wildfire with that in

the fossil record, and Yellowstone material with fossil

material from the British Jurassic.

Lowe, Donald R. “The structure, facies, and deposition

of siliceous sinter around thermal springs: Implications for the recognition of early life on earth &

mars”: Examine the textures and structuring of

siliceous sinter deposited around hot springs and

determine its physical and chemical controls; attempt

to characterize the role of organisms in sinter deposition; compare the structure of sinter with that of

putative biological structures in the oldest sedimentary

rocks on earth.

Research
Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 25

Powell, C.L. “An integrated approach to the reconstruction of a Devonian terrestrial ecosystem”: Collect

samples and data in the form of photographs and

observations of Yellowstone’s thermal features with a

focus on the structure and texture of siliceous sinters,

plant proximity to sites of activity, preservation and

mode of permineralization of biota, for comparison to

features present in the Devonian Rhynie cherts of New

Zealand.

Richmond, Gerald. “Glacial geology in Yellowstone

National Park”: Map glacial geology in the park;

attempt to date glacial and interglacial events through

palynology and paleoclimate data.

Runnegar, Bruce. “Sequence stratigraphy and biostratigraphy of the Snowy Range Formation, Wyoming and

Montana”.

Saltzman, Matthew R. “Trilobite mass extinctions in

Yellowstone National Park”: Investigate the changes in

global carbon cycling and sea level that are preserved

in carbonate rocks spanning a mass extinction horizon

during the Late Cambrian. Unusually fossiliferous

strata are well exposed in the Gallatin Range at Three

Rivers Peak and Crowfoot Ridge and can be used to

correlate sections in Yellowstone with sections in

China, Australia and Kazakstan.

Santucci, V.L., Wall, W., and Breithraupt, B. “A Paleontological Survey of Yellowstone National Park”:

Conduct a systematic paleontological survey of

Yellowstone; inventory fossil localities; produce a

paleo-species list; identify threats to the paleontological resources; present an historical review of paleontological research; compile related bibliographic

information; review paleontological specimens in park

collections and outside repositories; identify paleontological research needs; and prepare a paleontological

resources management document for the park.

Theriot, Edward. “Diatoms in Yellowstone National

Park”: Describe the evolution of Stephanodiscus

yellowstonensis, a diatom endemic to Yellowstone

Lake from the fossil record, in the context of regional

post-glacial climate change.

Webster, Clyde L. “Eruption history of the Sepulcher

Formation as determined by geochemistry”: Assess

the breccia, rock, and ash samples from Yellowstone’s

Fossil Forest (Specimen Creek Area); use geochemical

analyses and statistical methods to clarify the origin

and history of breccia flows and the petrified trees that

are buried by them.

Proposed Research

Background research, including bibliographic

reviews and direct communication with paleontological

researchers, has generated many ideas for future research

at Yellowstone. These five projects are considered to

have the highest priority.

• Inventory Yellowstone Paleontological Localities.

Other than this survey and limited work on the fossil

forests, fossil sites at Yellowstone have not been

inventoried. This lack of data on the distribution and

diversity of Yellowstone’s paleontological resources

limits park management’s ability to plan research and

protect fossil resources.

• Collect GIS data on Yellowstone Fossil Resources.

In conjunction with a park-wide inventory of fossil

resources, GPS measurements of fossil localities

should be obtained for inclusion in the park’s GIS

system, including all known standing petrified tree

stumps and mapping distributions of fossil localities.

This data will serve as a baseline record to support

research and planning, and to monitor changes to the

resources.

• Correlate Eocene volcaniclastics with Absaroka

fossil vertebrates. Extensive research has been done

on the east flank of the Absarokas, just outside of the

park, where significant collections of fossil vertebrates have been obtained. A correlation of this data

with fossil surveys and collection of paleomagnetic

samples from units in the park would provide

valuable information about the geologic events that

shaped Yellowstone during the Eocene.

• Survey Yellowstone’s Cretaceous biostratigraphy.

Vertebrate and paleobotanical fossils from preliminary surveys of the thick sequence of Cretaceous

sedimentary rocks that is exposed in the northern

parts of the park have provided valuable stratigraphic

data. Jack Horner of the Museum of the Rockies

believes that the park may contain exposures of a unit

that is possibly Judith River Formation, which is

recognized as an important fossil producing unit in

Montana, or an equivalent formation.

• Map Fossiliferous limestone formations of

Yellowstone. Limestone rocks in the Gallatin and
26

Northeast Regions of Yellowstone contain information about changes in oceanic chemistry since the

first animals appeared on Earth half a billion years

ago. Mapping and study of these Paleozoic limestones will enable correlation of Yellowstone rocks

with those worldwide.

Permit System

Fossil parks within the NPS often benefit from the

information obtained through park-related research. New

discoveries and interpretations of the resource have

expanded park management’s and the public’s understanding of the resource significance.

The research permit serves as an administrative tool

to help ensure resource protection by identifying the

limitations on and responsibilities of researchers in the

park. One difficulty in surveying information related to

the history of paleontological research at Yellowstone has

been the lack of compliance with the permit requirements. In some cases researchers have not appropriately

curated their specimen collections and reported their

findings to the park. Yellowstone should consider

denying permits to researchers that have not complied

with the permit rules.

Funding

Funding for paleontological research has traditionally

been difficult to secure within the NPS. Fossils do not

have specific legislation that provides for financial

support of resource-related projects. Most financial

support for paleontological resource projects has come

from park cooperating associations, park donation

accounts, or support from academic institutions.

The NPS has moved toward a greater recognition of

paleontological resources within the last few years. A

staff position in Washington was created to oversee

geologic and paleontological resource issues. The newly

created Geological Resources Division in Denver is

working towards securing sources of funding to support

paleontological research in the national parks.

Publication Needs

Discussions with researchers reveal a wealth of

paleontological data from Yellowstone that has not been

published and many suggestions for research that would

be published if funding or a publication source were

available.

A possible solution would be for Yellowstone to

support a Paleontological Resource Symposium to bring

together for the first time all of those involved in paleontological research in the park, provide a catalyst for

future research, and produce a publication of articles that

would provide an up to date interpretation of the park’s

paleontological resources.

Literature Surveys

As part of this survey, searches of biological, geological, paleontological, and government bibliographic

databases were conducted to locate any published

information related to paleontological resources at

Yellowstone. The Yellowstone National Park research

library provided access to copies of unpublished material

and park archives. Current and past paleontological

researchers were contacted directly to obtain copies of

their published and unpublished research. The bibliographic information obtained through this search wascross referenced with the collections at the park’s

research library. Park librarian Vanessa Christopher is

attempting to obtain copies of any relevant publications

not within the park library collections.

COLLECTIONS AND CURATION

Museum Collections

Because of the limited amount of paleontological

research which has been done at the park, the

park’s museum fossil x5collection is relatively small.

However, an examination of the few dozen fossil specimens curated into the museum collection and the

associated records provides an initial insight into the

geographic and taxonomic diversity of the fossils

preserved in the park. See Appendix E for a list of fossil

specimens in the park’s museum collection.

The park has four types of fossil collections: museum

storage in the Albright Visitor Center basement; a

warehouse in Gardiner (Building 2009); interpretive

collections throughout the park; and collections made by

Wayne Hamilton in the Physical Sciences trailer. Surveys

of these collections have included a consideration of the

scope of collection, security, and organization.

Scope. The scope of the fossil collections for

Yellowstone’s museum collection may become better

refined through the data presented in this document. In

Research
Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 27

general, the fossil collection is inadequate in terms of

both the quality of the specimens and the diversity of the

fossils included. More representative specimens should

be obtained for research and interpretive purposes. In

addition, the museum has specimens from localities

outside the park, including fossil horse elements from

Chalk Cliffs north of Gardiner, that may be beyond the

desired scope of its collection, given storage limitations.

Security. Although the security of the park’s

collections at Mammoth and Gardiner is very good, that

of specimens in the interpretive collections is unknown

and may vary. Because of lack of storage space and

pending receipt of the collector’s field notes, the specimens in the Physical Sciences trailer have not been

formally added to the collection and are not adequately

secured.

Organization. Specimens are arranged in a single

cabinet. As the fossil collections expand, a different

organization may better accommodate research needs.

From a research perspective, the best approach would be

based on stratigraphy or taxonomy. If warranted by the

size of the collection and space availability, stratigraphy

should be the primary subdivision and taxonomy the

secondary subdivision. Storage cabinets can be arranged

according to the geologic time scale, and the stratigraphic

unit (e.g., Mississippian Lodgepole Limestone) can be

represented sequentially within each geologic time

period. Within each stratigraphic unit, specimens can be

arranged taxonomically (e.g., corals, brachiopods,

crinoids, etc.).

Another issue related to fossil acquisition is the need

to obtain copies of field notes and sketches. These

records can be valuable for future research and should be

routinely incorporated into the museum records.

Photographic Archives

Historic photos. A 1996 database search of

Yellowstone’s photographic archives found 63 historic

photos related to the park’s paleontological resources, all

of them of Tertiary petrified wood.

Museum specimens. The 1996 photographs taken of

fossil specimens in the park’s museum collection satisfy

NPS collections management policies and will facilitate

future paleontological research.

Interpretive slides. Most of the paleontology-related

slides in the interpretive files at Mammoth Hot Springs

and Old Faithful are of fossils or fossil reconstructions

from outside the park. A handful of slides show

Yellowstone’s petrified wood and fossil leaves. The park

photographer, Jim Peaco, has some photos of the fossil

plant material discovered during the East Entrance Road

Construction that have not been cataloged into the park’s

archives.

Recommendations for Park Fossil

Collections

• Acquire better representative fossil

specimens for research and interpretion.

• Examine interpretive collections for

significant fossil specimens and determine

if these specimens should be placed into

the museum collection.

• Locate and assess fossil collections

stored in the Physical Sciences trailer and

incorporate significant specimens into the

park’s museum collection.

• Reorganize storage of park fossil specimens (museum intern working on this

project in September 1996).

• Ensure that researchers submit field

records associated with paleontological

resources and collections.

Recommendations for Photo Archives

• Photodocument all specimens curated into

the park’s collections.

• Photodocument all Yellowstone fossil

specimens in outside collections.

• Attempt to locate historic photos of park

fossils in outside collections (e.g.,

Smithsonian, Loma Linda University).

• Photodocument all known fossil localities.

• Produce slides of representative park

fossils for the interpretive collections.
28

Additional photographic resources. More comprehensive documentation of paleontological localities

would enhance efforts in research, protection, and

interpretation of the historic record of life in Yellowstone.

Historic photos may exist in collections held by past

researchers or outside museums. Such photos of petrified

wood localities could provide significant baseline data for

monitoring impacts that result from erosion or illegal

collection.

Options for Specimen Storage

The question of whether to retain park specimens

within the park’s collections or loan them to outside

repositories emerges repeatedly throughout the National

Park Service. Five options are offered below for the

management of Yellowstone’s paleontological collections.

1. The Yellowstone National Park Museum. Although many factors need to be taken into consideration, if adequate staff, space, funding and

environmental conditions are present, park collections are generally best retained within the park

museum. Park-based collections greatly facilitate

research and make it easier to ensure that museum

objects are curated according to NPS standards.

2. The Museum of the Rockies. This is a possible

alternative for invertebrate and vertebrate fossils. The

collections are well managed and the museum in

Bozeman is relatively close to Yellowstone.

3. The Midwest Archeological Center. This facility in

Lincoln, Nebraska currently has collections of

Holocene fauna from Yellowstone that have been

evaluated by Ken Cannon and curated in accordance

with NPS standards.

4. The Museum of Paleontology, Berkeley. This

world-renowned institution employs excellent

curators and collections managers.

5. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. This

museum, which has historically been considered the

primary national repository for fossil collections,

holds nearly all of the significant paleobotanical

specimens from Yellowstone, including the material

described by Knowlton, Dorf’s collections, numerous

fossil invertebrates collected in the late 1800s,

including a few “type” specimens. The consolidation

of all Yellowstone paleobotanical research material at

the Smithsonian, with a long-term commitment to the

collections, would greatly facilitate future research.

As part of the 1996 Paleontological Survey, an

intensive search was conducted for Yellowstone specimens in outside repositories and several previously

unknown collections were located, including some “type”

specimens. (See Appendix F for a list of these collections.) Information on four “type” specimens of fossil

plants described by Beyer (1954) indicate that they are

still located at the University of Cincinnati. The status

and location of these specimens should be confirmed.

The Yale Peabody Museum may also have a small

collection of Yellowstone fossils, including a large

number of fossil brachiopod specimens and possibly the

Pleistocene horse Equus nebraskensis (YPM-PU 14673).

Paleobotanical specimens collected by William Fritz in

association with his research are currently at Georgia

State University and a small collection at Montana State

University.

According to 36 CFR 2.5, all natural resource objects

placed in exhibits or collections must be accessioned and

cataloged into the park’s museum collection. These

collections should be inventoried and any whose current

status and location is unknown should be investigated.

Recommendations for Fossil

Collections in Outside Repositories

• Organize meeting with park curator and

relevant staff to discuss issues related to

managing the park’s fossil collections at

the park or in an outside repository.

• Inventory the park’s fossil collections and

associated data or field notes in outside

repositories; incorporate into the Yellowstone Museum collections database.

• Review status of recent park fossil collections and evaluate with regard to compliance with permits and NPS standards.

Collections and Curation
Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 29

PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES

NEAR YELLOWSTONE

Gallatin Petrified Forest

Extensive outcrops of petrified forest are exposed

within national forest areas just north and

northwest of Yellowstone National Park. The Gallatin

National Forest includes approximately 25,980 acres of

land designated as a special management zone referred to

as the Gallatin Petrified Forest, which is geologically

equivalent to similar exposures within Yellowstone. The

U.S. Forest Service has developed an interpretive trail

along cliffs containing petrified wood fragments. Although collection of petrified wood is prohibited along

the trail, up to 20 cubic inches can legally be collected for

non-commercial purposes per person per year elsewhere

in the Gallatin National Forest. A self-serve permit

station is located at the entrance to the Tom Miner

Petrified Forest or at one of the U.S. Forest Service

district offices.

Yellowstone River Valley

The Middle Miocene Hepburn’s Mesa Formation

north of Yellowstone National Park preserves the remains

of fossil vertebrates. Tony Barnosky (Montana State

University) has studied Barstovian mammals from this

formation.

The Chalk Cliffs, north of Gardiner near Old East

River Road, contain Miocene fossil vertebrate remains

including horse, turtle and shark’s teeth. Fossil equid

limb bones from Chalk Cliffs are in the Yellowstone Park

Museum.

Beartooth Mountains

The area surrounding Cooke City just outside the

northeast park entrance contains extremely rich fossil

deposits, primarily Paleozoic sedimentary layers that

contain an abundance of invertebrate fossils. From the

Devonian Beartooth Butte Formation, which contains

Lower Devonian plant and fish fossils representing a

estuary along an ancient sea coast, five ostracoderm fish

species have been identified.

Wapiti Valley

Early and Middle Eocene fossil vertebrates have been

collected in Wapiti Valley just east of the park. Fossils

ranging in age from Wasatchian through Bridgerian have

been collected by paleontologists from the University of

Michigan in the exposed sediments and volcaniclastic

rocks exposed in the north and south forks of the Shoshone River.

Other fossil vertebrate localities east of the Absaroka

Mountains which have been studied by Jeff Eaton have

yielded primarily Eocene fauna. Paleontological surveys

along the eastern boundary of Yellowstone, especially the

Hoodoo Peak and Bootjack Gap areas, may yield similar

age deposits and fossils.

Bridger-Teton National Forest

Exposures of the Cretaceous Harebell Formation can

be found just south of the park. Dinosaur footprints were

recently discovered by Kirk Johnson (Denver Museum of

Natural History) in the Bridger-Teton Wilderness Area.

Eocene, Oligocene and Miocene vertebrate fossils are

known from the Emerald Lake area, three miles south of

the park. The White River and Colter Formations contain

Chadronian through Arikareean fossil mammals (Love et

al. 1976).

The Hominy Peak Formation, which is exposed along

the southern boundary of Yellowstone National Park,

contains Eocene flora and vertebrate fossils corresponding to Bridgerian A-B fauna (Love et al. 1978).

Gravelly Range

Vertebrate fossils ranging from Uintan through

Whitneyan are known from the Gravelly Range, west of

the park.
30

Aguirre, M.R. 1977. Coniferous leaves from the Amethyst Mountain “Fossil Forest,” Yellowstone

National Park, Wyoming. Unpublished senior thesis,

Walla Walla College, College Park, Washington.

16pp.

Aguirre, M.R. 1980. An Eocene leaf florule from the

Amethyst Mountain “Fossil Forest”, Yellowstone

National Park, Wyoming. M.S. Thesis, Walla Walla

College, College Park, Washington. 83pp.

Ammons, R., W.J. Fritz, R.B. Ammons and A. Ammons.

1987. Cross identification of Ring Structures in

Eocene Tree (Sequoia magnifica) from the Specimen Ridge Locality of the Yellowstone Fossil

Forests. Paleogeography, Paleoclimatology, Paleoecology 60:97-108.

Andrews, H.N. 1939. Notes on the fossil flora of

Yellowstone National Park with particular reference

to the Gallatin region. American Midland Naturalist

21(2):454-460.

Andrews, H.N. and L.W. Lenz. 1946. The Gallatin Fossil

Forest (Yellowstone National Park). Missouri

Botanical Gardens Annual 33:309-313.

Arct, M. 1979. Dendrochronology in the Yellowstone

Fossil Forests. Masters Thesis, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California. 65pp.

Baker, R.G. 1969. Later Quaternary pollen and plant

macrofossils from abandoned lagoon sediments

near Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Colorado, Boulder. 114pp.

Baker, R.G. 1970. Pollen sequence from late Quaternary

sediments in Yellowstone National Park. Science

168 (3938):1449-1450.

Baker, R.G. 1976. Late Quaternary vegetation history of

the Yellowstone Lake Basin, Wyoming. U.S.

Geological Survey Professional Paper 729-E. 48pp.

Baker, R.G. 1986. Sangamonian and Wisconsinian

paleoenvironments in Yellowstone National Park.

Geological Society of America Bulletin 97:717-736.

Barnosky, A. and W.J. Labar. 1989. Mid-Miocene

(Barstovian) environmental and tectonic setting near

Yellowstone Park, Wyoming and Montana. Geological Society of America Bulletin 101:1448-1456.

Barnosky, E.H. 1992. A positive role for taphonomy and

time-averaging as illustrated by mammalian fossils

from Lamar Cave, Yellowstone National Park,

Wyoming. Geological Society of America Abstracts

with Programs 24(2):2.

Barnosky, E.H. 1994. Ecosystem dynamics through the

past 2000 years as revealed by fossil mammals from

Lamar Cave in Yellowstone National Park. Historical Biology 8:71-90.

Bauer, C. 1962. Yellowstone, its underground world.

University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. 122

pp.

Beyer, A.F. 1954. Some petrified wood from the Specimen Ridge area of Yellowstone National Park.

American Midland Naturalist 51(2):553-567.

Bown, T.M. 1982. Geology, Paleontology, and correlation

of Eocene volcaniclastic rocks, southeast Absaroka

Range, Hot Springs County, Wyoming. U.S.

Geoligical Survey Professional Paper 1201-A. 89pp.

Burbank, D.W. and A.D. Barnosky. 1990. The

magnetochronology of Barstovian mammals in

southwestern Montana and implications for the

initiation of Neogene crustal extension in the

northern Rocky Mountains. Geological Society of

America Bulletin 102:1093-1104.

Chadwick, A. and T. Yamamoto. 1984. A paleoecological

analysis of petrified trees in the Specimen Creek

area of Yellowstone National Park, Montana, U.S.A.

Paleogeography, Paleoclimatology, Paleoecology

45:39-48.

Chapman, W. and L. Chapman. 1935. The petrified

forest. Natural History Magazine, May:382-393.

Coffin, H. 1976. Orientation of trees in the Yellowstone

Petrified Forests. Journal Paleontology 50(3):539-

543.

Conrad, H.S. 1930. A Pityoxylon from Yellowstone

National Park. American Journal of Botany 17:547-

553.

Crickmay, C.H. 1936. Study in the Jurassic of Wyoming.

Geological Society of America Bulletin 47(4): 541-

564.

DeBord, P.L. 1977. Gallatin Mountain “Petrified Forest”:

A palynological investigation of the in situ model.

Ph.D. Thesis, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda,

California. 86pp.

DeBord, P.L. 1979. Palynology of the Gallatin Mountain

“Fossil Forest” of Yellowstone National Park,

Montana: Preliminary Report. Pages 159-164 in R.

Linn, ed. Proceedings First Conference Scientific

Research in the National Parks. U.S. Department of

Interior. National Park Service Transactions and

Proceedings Series 5.

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Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 31

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College, College Park, Washington. 57pp.

Fritz, W.J. 1980. Reinterpretation of the depositional

environment of the Yellowstone “fossil forests.”

Geology 8:309-313.

Fritz, W.J. 1982. Geology of the Lamar River Formation,

northeast Yellowstone National Park. Pages 73-101

in M. Rucker and F. Drago, eds. Wyoming Geological

Association Guidebook, Casper, Wyoming.

Fritz, W.J. 1984. The puzzle of Yellowstone’s petrified

forest. Montana Magazine, January-February:15-16.

Fritz, W.J. 1986. Plant taphonomy in areas of explosive

volcanism in land plants: Notes for a short course.

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in Geology 15:1-9.

Fritz, W.J. and L.H. Fisk. 1977. Paleoecology of some

Eocene woods from the Amethyst Mountain “Fossil

Forest,” Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

Botanical Society of America Abstracts 154:37.

Fritz, W.J. and L.H. Fisk. 1978. Eocene petrified woods

from one unit of the Amethyst Mountain “fossil

forest.” Northwest Geology 7:10-19.

Fritz, W.J. and L.H. Fisk. 1979. Paleoecology of petrified

wood from the Amethyst Mountain “Fossil Forests,”

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. National Park

Service Proceedings 5(2):743-749.

Gennett, J.A. and R.G. Baker. 1986. A Late Quaternary

pollen sequence from Blacktail Pond, Yellowstone

National Park, Wyoming. Palynology 10: 61-71.

Girty, G.H. 1899. Devonian and Carboniferous fossils [of

Yellowstone National Park]. U.S. Geological Survey
32

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Grant, R.E. 1965. Faunas and stratigraphy of the Snowy

Range Formation (Upper Cambrian) in southwestern

Montana and northwestern Wyoming. Geological

Society of America Memoire 96. 171pp.

Hadley, E. 1990. Late Holocene mammalian fauna of

Lamar Cave and its implications for ecosystem

dynamics in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

M.S. Thesis, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff.

127pp.

Hague, A., J.P. Iddings, W.H. Weed, C.D. Walcott, G.H.

Girty, T.W. Stanton, and F.H. Knowlton. 1899.

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paleontology. Part II of Geology of the Yellowstone

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on the geology of the Yellowstone National Park.

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Yellowstone National Park. Pages 1-57 in U.S.

Geological Survey, territories of Wyoming and Idaho.

1883 ed. 12th annual report, part 2.

Holmes, W.H. 1879. Fossil forests of the volcanic tertiary

formations of Yellowstone National Park. U.S.

Geological Survey Territories Bulletin 2:125-132.

Iddings, J.P. and W.H. Weed. 1899. Descriptive geology

of the Gallatin Mountains. U.S. Geological Survey

Monograph 32:1-59.

Knowlton, F.H. 1895. Fossil forests of Yellowstone

National Park. The Epoch 1(1):15-50.

Knowlton, F.H. 1896. The Tertiary floras of Yellowstone

National Park. American Journal of Science, 4th

Series 2:51-58.

Knowlton, F.H. 1898. The standing fossil forests of the

Yellowstone National Park. Plant World 1(4):53-55.

Knowlton, F.H. 1899. Fossil flora of the Yellowstone

National Park. U.S. Geological Survey Monograph

32:651-882.

Knowlton, F.H. 1914. Fossil forests of the Yellowstone

National Park. Department of the Interior, Office of

the Secretary. 31pp.

Lesquereux, L. 1872. An enumeration with descriptions

of some Teritiary fossil plants from specimens

procured in the explorations of Dr. F. V. Hayden in

1870: U.S. Geol. and Geog. Surv. Terr. (Hayden)

Ann. Rept. 5, Suppl., p. 283-318.

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and Quaternary times. Pages 140-150 in Wyoming

Geological Association Guidebook, 11th Annual

Field Conference.

Love, J.D., E.B. Leopold, and D.W. Love. 1978. Eocene

Rocks, Fossils, and Geologic History, Teton Range,

Northwestern Wyoming. U.S. Geological Survey

Professional Paper 932-B. 40pp.

Love, J.D., M. McKenna, and M.R. Dawson. 1976.

Eocene, Oligocene, and Miocene rocks and vertebrate fossils at the Emerald Lake Locality, 3 miles

south of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. U.S.

Geological Survey Professional Paper 932-A. 28 pp.

Ludlow, W. 1876. Report of a Reconnaissance from

Carroll, Montana Territory, on the Upper Missouri to

the Yellowstone National Park and Return, made in

the Summer of 1875 by William Ludlow. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.

Lugenbeal, M.P. 1968. Evidence bearing on the time

involved in the deposition of the fossil forests of the

Specimen Creek area, Yellowstone National Park,

Montana. M.A. Thesis, Andrews University, Michigan. 85pp.

Read, C.B. 1930. Fossil floras of the Yellowstone

National Park, Part 1, Coniferous woods of Lamar

River flora. Carnegie Institute of Washington Publication 416:1-19, 416-468.

Retallack, G. 1981. Reinterpretation of the depositional

environment of Yellowstone fossil forest: Comment.

Geology 9:52-53.

Ritland, J.H. 1968. Fossil forests of Specimen Creek area,

Yellowstone National Park, Montana. M.A. Thesis,

Andrews University, Michigan. 62pp.

Rohrer, W.L. 1974. An early middle Eocene flora from

the Yellowstone-Absaroka volcanic province,

northwestern Wind River Basin, Wyoming. Pages 10-

18 in MacGinite, ed. Stratigraphy and stratigraphic

relations of the fossil floras. University of California

Publications in the Geological Sciences, volume 108.

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northern part of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Pages 111-137 in Proc. Thirty-third Annual

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National Park. Yellostone National Park, National

Park Service.

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Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 33

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the Yellowstone National Park region. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 729-C. 33pp.

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National Park]. U.S. Geological Survey Monograph

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Popular Science Monthly 43:301-307.

Tysdal, R.G. and D.J. Nichols. 1991. Biostratigraphic

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34 Appendices

APPENDIX A

Yellowstone Paleontological Survey Proposal

1995

I. Project Title: Paleontological Survey of

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

II. Principle Investigators

Vincent L. Santucci

National Park Service

P.O. Box 592

Kemmerer, WY 83101

(307) 877-4455

William P. Wall

Department of Biology

Georgia College

Milledgeville, GA 31061

(912) 454-0818

Brent Breithaupt

Museum of Geology

University of Wyoming

P.O. Box 3006

Laramie, WY 82070

(307) 766-2646

III. Support Staff

Graduate and undergraduate students from Georgia

College and Slippery Rock University will work under

direct supervision of the principle investigators. Both

faculty and students will participate in all phases of

literature review, field investigations, museum research,

report writing and preparation of final publication.

Graphics illustrator will be employed to produce maps,

figures and illustrations for publications.

IV. Research Statement

Yellowstone National Park is recognized for its

natural, cultural and scenic resources. Management of the

park’s resources presents interesting challenges to the

park staff. Although wildlife, vegetation and geothermal

features predominate, a wealth of other resource types

occur in the park. A diverse and scientifically significant

assemblage of paleontological resources are preserved at

Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone geology spans from the Precambrian

through the recent. Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic

deposits have yielded many types of fossilized plants,

invertebrates and vertebrates. Paleontological research

projects conducted over the last century have identified

numerous localities within the park. Most of the research

has been isolated to specific stratigraphic units or

taxonomic groups. A comprehensive paleontological

survey has not yet been accomplished at Yellowstone

National Park.

A paleontological survey will provide documentation

that would assist park staff with the development of

appropriate and specific management strategies related to

the non-renewable fossil resources. The survey can serve

to assist in the resource management, research, protection, interpretation, etc. of the wide range of fossil types

present at Yellowstone National Park. A detailed list of

goals and objectives anticipated are listed below in

Section V.

V. Goals and Objectives

The primary goal of this project is to produce a

detailed paleontological resource management document

that will assist the park staff in the management, research,

protection, interpretation of fossils in Yellowstone

National Park. The survey will include numerous

components which will be provided to the park in the

form of written reports, maps and/or photographs. The

survey components are directly linked to specific goals/

objectives and include:

1. Inventory of Fossil Sites

All known paleontological sites will be inventoried.

Each site will be reviewed in terms of paleontological

significance, geographic location, stratigraphic range,

types of fossil specimens collected, previous research at

site, etc. Inventory will include the production of a

paleontological resources map for the park. The paleoresource map will become available for incorporation

into the park’s Geographic Information System (GIS).

Additionally, an attempt will be made to photodocument

as many of the park’s known paleontological sites as

possible. Recommendations will be provided towards

establishing a Paleontological Resource Inventory and

Monitoring Program at Yellowstone National Park.

2. Produce a Paleo-Species List

A list of all known and described species of fossils,

including paleofauna, paleoflora and ichnofossils will be

produced. Each fossil taxon will be listed with descriptive information including significance, stratigraphic

occurrence, localities collected, associated references,

type specimen references, relevant curatorial data

(including catalog numbers).
Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 35

3. Identification of Threats to Park Paleo Resources

The fossil resources at Yellowstone National Park will

be evaluated in regards to the types of resource threats.

Fossil sites will be assessed regarding rates of erosion,

potential for theft or vandalism, and other potential

threats to the paleontological resources. An historical

review of any past cases of paleontological resource theft

will be conducted. Recommendations will be provided to

assist park staff in the mitigation of the various threats

and adverse impacts to the fossil resources.

4. Historical Review of All Previous Paleo Related

Research at Yellowstone National Park

A comprehensive review and documentation of all

previous paleontological research conducted at

Yellowstone will be performed. Compilation of this data

will help to establish a research baseline from which

future research needs may be established. Information

will include names of investigators and institutions

involved in research projects. Dates, geographic areas,

stratigraphic ranges, taxonomic groups, etc. will be

identified for each project. A chronology of park paleoresearch will be established.

5. Compile Paleo-Bibliography for Yellowstone

An intensive bibliographic search of all known

bibliographic references pertaining to any paleontological

resources at Yellowstone will be undertaken. The

bibliography will be annotated and published in the final

Paleo Resource Publication provided to Yellowstone.

Copies of any relevant paleo-related reference that may

not be available in the Yellowstone Library will be

provided to the park if possible (at least a photocopy).

6. Curatorial Review of All Park Paleo-Specimens

A review of all known fossil specimens collected

from Yellowstone National Park will be accomplished.

Fossils specimens in the park collection and in outside

repositories will be inventoried. If possible, outside

repositories will be visited and specimens examined,

photographed and data collected. This component will

support the curatorial program in the park. Recommendations specific to curatorial management and preservation of fossil specimens will be provided to park.

7. Paleontological Research Needs

The accumulation of paleo-related data from a wide

range of sources will assist in the recognition of specific

paleo resource/research needs at Yellowstone National

Park. These recommendations will be provided to the

park in the form of Resource Management Plan Project

Statements. This format should be in support of the

overall management objectives of Yellowstone National

Park.

8. Final Oral Presentation/Training for Park Staff

Upon completion of the research and production of

Yellowstone Paleo Resource Document, the principle

investigators will arrange with park to conduct a training/

presentation for park staff. Presentations can be designed

to highlight interpretive potential, resource significance,

management issues, research past and future, protection

strategies, etc.

9. Production of a Yellowstone Paleontological Resources Report

The final component of the survey is the production

of a Yellowstone Paleontological Resources Report. This

publication will document all of the information gained

through each of the other survey components (i.e., site

inventories, paleo-species list, identification of fossil

threats, bibliography, etc.). This document will be

prepared in a format that is most suitable for park staff.

Draft copy will be provided to park for review prior to

publication.

VI. Park Support

This project is anticipated to take three years to

complete. Multiple trips to the park will be necessary to

consult with park staff, conduct field surveys and site

documentation, examine museum collections, utilize

library research materials, provide training, etc. Interviews with park staff and researchers with knowledge of

park paleo resources will be valuable. Expenses including transportation, equipment, photographic supplies, etc.

are requested. If park housing or group campsites are

available, they would be greatly appreciated and would

help to reduce expenses.

 Requested funding: $66,000

Smaller funding can be directed towards one or more

of the component portions of the proposal. These can be

channelled towards the greatest needs at Yellowstone

National Park.
36

Geologic Time Codes:

[C] Cambrian

[D] Devonian

[M] Mississippian

[P] Permian

[T] Triassic

[J] Jurassic

[K] Cretaceous

[E] Eocene

[Q] Quaternary

[H] Holocene

CHLOROPHYTA

Hydrodictyaceae

Pediastrum sp. [Q]

CHAROPHYTA

Characeae

Chara sp. [Q]

BRYOPHYTA

Aulacomniaceae

Aulacomnium palustre [Q]

Hypnaceae

Climacium dendroides [Q]

Drepanocladus sp. [Q]

Sphagnaceae

Sphagnum warnstorfianum [Q]

PTERIDOPHYTA

Aspidaceae

Dryopteris xantholithense [E]

Cyatheaceae

Cyathidites minor [E]

Davalliaceae

?Davallia montana [E]

Equisetaceae

Equisetum canaliculatum [E]

Equisetum deciduum [E]

Equisetum sp. [E]

Gleicheniaceae

Cardioangulina sp. [E]

Hymenophyllaceae

Hymenophyllumsporites sp. [E]

Lycopodiaceae

Lycopodium sp. [E]

Marattiaceae

Punctatosporites scabratus [E]

Polypodiaceae

Laevigatosporites haardti [E]

Laevigatosporites ovatus [E]

Laevigatosporites sp. [E]

Schizaeaceae

Lygodium kaulfussii [E]

Lygodium sp. [E]

Schizaea sp. [E]

Triplanosporites microsinosis [E]

Selaginellaceae

Neoraistrickia sp. [E]

Selaginella sp. [E]

Selaginella densa [Q]

Selaginella selaginoides [Q]

Thelypteridaceae

Thelypteris iddingsi [E]

Thelypteris weedii [E]

SPERMATOPHYTA

GYMNOSPERMAE

Cupressaceae

Cupressinoxylon lamarense [E]

Libocedrus decurrenoides [E]

Thuja xantholitica [E]

Juniperus sp. [E]

Juniperus communis [Q]

Juniperus virginiana [Q]

Cycadaceae

Cycadopites sp. [E]

Monosulcites sp. [E]

Zamites pollardi [E]

Ephedraceae

Ephedra torreyana [Q]

Ephedra viridis [Q]

Ephedra sp. [E]

Pinaceae

Abies lapidea [E]

Abies lasiocapra [Q]

Cedrus sp. [E]

Larix sp. [E]

Picea engelmannii [Q]

Piceoxylon laricinoides [E]

Pinus albicaulis [Q]

Pinus baumani [E]

Appendices

Appendix B

Yellowstone Paleo-Species List
Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 37

Pinus contorta [Q]

Pinus fallax [E]

Pinus flexilis [Q]

Pinus gracilistrobus [E]

Pinus macrolepis [E]

Pinus ponderosa [Q]

Pinus premurrayana [E]

Pinus pseudotsugoides [E]

Pinus wardii [E]

Pinus wheeleri [E]

Pityoxylon sp. [E]

Pseudotsuga menziesii [Q]

Tsuga heterophylla [Q]

Tsuga mertensiana [Q]

Tsuga minisacca [E]

Tsuga viridifluminipites [E]

Podocarpaceae

Podocarpus sp. [E]

Taxaceae

?Taxus sp. [E]

Taxodiaceae

Glyptostrobus nordenskioeldii [E]

Sequoia affinis [E]

Sequoia lapillipites [E]

Sequoia magnifica [E]

Taxodiaceaepollenites hiatus [E]

Taxodium hiatipites [E]

ANGIOSPERMAE MONOCOTYLEDONAE

Areaceae

Arecipites sp. [E]

Monocolpopollenites sp. [E]

Cyperaceae

Carex aquatilis [Q]

Carex canescens [Q]

Carex diandra [Q]

Carex geyeri [Q]

Carex hoodii [Q]

Carex limosa [Q]

Carex phaeocephala [Q]

Carex utriculata [Q]

Carex vesicaria [Q]

?Cyperacites sp. [E]

Eleocharis macrostachya [Q]

Eriophorum sp. [Q]

Scripus acutus [Q]

Gramineae

Agropyron sp. [Q]

Bromus inermis [Q]

Calamagrostis canadensis [Q]

Calamagrostis inexpansa [Q]

Deschampsia caespitosa [Q]

Elymus sp. [Q]

Glyceria borealis [Q]

Glyceria maxima [Q]

Graminidites sp. [E]

Poa sp. [Q]

Sitanion longifolium [Q]

Stipa sp. [Q]

Juncaceae

Luzula parviflora [Q]

Luzula spicata [Q]

Liliaceae

Liliacidites sp. [E]

Smilax lamarensis [E]

Najadaceae

Najas flexilis [Q]

Potamogeton alpinus [Q]

Potamogeton filiformis [Q]

Potamogeton gramineus [Q]

Potamogeton illinoensis [Q]

Potamogeton pectinatus [Q]

Potamogeton vaginatus [Q]

Pandanaceae

Pandanus sp. [E]

Potamogetonaceae

Potamogeton sp. [E]

Sparganiaceae

Sparganium angustifolium [Q]

Sparganium minimum [Q]

Typhaceae

Typha angustifolia [Q]

Typha latifolia [Q]

Typha leaquiereuxi [E]

DICOTYLEDONAE

Aceraceae

Acer bendierei [E]

Acer sp. [Q]

Anacardiaceae

Rhus crystallifera [Q]

Aquifoliaceae

Ilex sp. [Q]

Araliaceae

Aralia notata [Q]

Aralia wrightii [Q]

Betulaceae

Alnus tenuifolia [Q]
38

Alnus sp. [E]

Betula claripites [E]

Betula glandulosa [Q]

Betula occidentalis [Q]

Betula sp. [Q]

Carpinus absarokensis [E]

Carpinus ancipites [E]

Corylus macquarrii [E]

Bombacaceae

Bombacacidites sp. [E]

Boraginaceae

Mertensia sp. [Q]

Burseraceae

Canarium leonis [E]

Callitrichaceae

Callitriche sp. [Q]

Campanulaceae

Campanula rotundifolia [Q]

Chenopodiaceae

Atriplex sp. [Q]

Chenmopodipollis sp. [E]

Sarcobatus vermiculatus [Q]

Combretaceae

?Terminalia sp. [E]

Compositae

Achillea lanulosa [Q]

Ambrosia [Q]

Antennaria [Q]

Artemisia tridentata [Q]

Aster sp. [Q]

Chrysothamnus sp. [Q]

Cornaceae

Cornus wrightii [E]

?Mastixia sp. [E]

Crassulaceae

Sedum lanceolatum [Q]

Sedum rhodanthum [Q]

Sedum rosea [Q]

Cruciferae

Arabis glabra [Q]

Descurainia californica [Q]

Rorippa islandica [Q]

Cyrillaceae

Cyrilloxylon eocenicium [E]

Ebenaceae

Diospyros brachysepala [E]

Diospyros lamarensis [E]

Eleagnaceae

Shepherdia canadensis [Q]

Ericaceae

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi [Q]

Kalmia polifolia [Q]

Ledum glandulosum [Q]

Phyllodoce empetriformis [Q]

Vaccinium myrtillus [Q]

Euphorbiaceae

Amamoa sp. [E]

Fagaceae

Castanea castaneaefolia [E]

Castanopsis longipetiolatum [E]

Fagopsis longifolia [E]

Fagus grandiporosa [E]

Nothofagus sp. [E]

Quercinium amthystianum [E]

Quercinium knowltonii [E]

Quercinium lamarense [E]

Quercus furcinervis americana [E]

Quercus grossidentata [E]

Quercus rubida [E]

Quercus simulata [E]

Quercus weedii [E]

Quercus sp. [Q]

Gentianaceae

Gentianopsis thermalis [Q]

Grossulariaceae

Ribes sp. [Q]

Haloragidaceae

Myriphyllum sp. [E]

Hamamelidaceae

Hamamelis sp. [E]

Hydrophyllaceae

Phacelia sp. [E]

Icacinaceae

Phytocrene sordida [E]

Juglandaceae

Carya antiquorum [E]

Juglans crescentia [E]

Juglans rugosa [E]

Juglans sp. [Q]

Momiptes coryloides [E]

Momiptes trenuipolus [E]

Momiptes triorbicularis [E]

Momiptes triradiatus [E]

Pterocarya roanensis [E]

Pterocaryoxylon knowltonii [E]

Lauraceae

Cinnamomum spectabile [E]

Laurophyllum grandis [E]

Appendices
Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 39

Laurus ?primigenia [E]

Lindera varifolia [E]

Litsea lamarensis [E]

Persea pseudocarolinensis [E]

Perseaoxylon aromaticum [E]

Ulminium eocenicum [E]

Ulminium parenchumatosum [E]

Ulminium porosum [E]

Leguminosae

Acacia lamarensis [E]

Acacia macrosperma [E]

Acacia wardii [E]

Leguminosites inlustris [E]

Leguminosites lamarensis [E]

Lupinus argenteus [Q]

Lentibulariaceae

Utricularia minor [Q]

Utricularia vulgaris [Q]

Loranthaceae

Arceuthobium americanum [Q]

Arceuthobium campylopodum [Q]

Arceuthobium douglasii [Q]

Magnoliaceae

Magnolia californica [E]

Magnolia culveri [E]

Magnolia spectabilis [E]

Menyanthaceae

Menyanthes trifoliata [Q]

Moraceae

?Artocarpus sp. [E]

Broussonetia sp. [E]

Ficus asiminaefolia [E]

Ficus densifolia [E]

Ficus haquei [E]

Ficus shastensis [E]

Myricaceae

Myrica absarokensis [E]

Myrica lamarensis [E]

Myrica wardii [E]

Myrtaceae

Myrtaceidites sp. [E]

Nymphaeaceae

Nuphar luteum [Q]

Nuphar sp. [E]

Nyssaceae

Nyssa puercoensis [E]

Nyssa saximontana [E]

Oleaeceae

Fraxinus sp. [E]

Onagraceae

Epilobium adenocaulon [Q]

Epilobium glandulosum [Q]

Epilobium lactiflorum [Q]

Platanaceae

Plataninium haydenii [E]

Plantanophyllum whitneyi [E]

Plantanus appendiculata [E]

Plantanus browni [E]

Plantanus sp. [E]

Polemoniaceae

Phlox multiflora [Q]

Polemonium sp. [Q]

Polygonaceae

Bistorta bistortoides [Q]

Bistorta vivipara [Q]

Eriogonum sp. [Q]

Persicaria amphibia [Q]

Persicaria maculata [Q]

Polygonum ramosissimum [Q]

Rumex fueginus [Q]

Rumex paucifolius [Q]

Rumex salicifolius [Q]

Ranunculaceae

Aconitum columbianum [Q]

Anemone multifida [Q]

Ranunculus aquatilis [Q]

Rhamnaceae

Ceanothus velutinus [Q]

Rhamnacinium radiatum [E]

Rhamnus eorectinervis [E]

Rhizophoraceae

?Rhizophora sp. [E]

Rosaceae

Cercocarpus sp. [Q]

Frageria sp. [Q]

Geum macrophyllum [Q]

Pentaphylloides floribunda [Q]

Potentilla biennis [Q]

Potentilla gracilis [Q]

Potentilla norvegica [Q]

Potentilla palustris [Q]

Prunus gummosa [E]

Sibbaldia procumbens [Q]

Rubiaceae

Galium trifidum [Q]

Salicaceae

Populus balsamifera [Q]

Populus balsamoides [E]
40

Populus tremuloides [Q]

Populus trichocarpa [Q]

?Populus vivaria [E]

?Populus sp. [E]

Salix angusta [E]

Salix arctica [Q]

Salix liqulifolia [Q]

Salix subcoerulea [Q]

Salix varians [E]

Salix sp. [E]

Sapindaceae

?Cupanieidites sp. [E]

Koelreuteria mixta [E]

Sapindus grandifoliolus [E]

Sapindus wardii [E]

Saxifragaceae

Saxifraga caespitosa [Q]

Saxifraga rhomboidea [Q]

Staphyleaceae

Turpinia Lamarense [E]

Sterculiaceae

Fremontia sp. [E]

Pterospermites haguei [E]

Reevesia sp. [E]

Tiliaceae

Tilia sp. Type 1 & Type 2 [E]

Triumfetta sp. [E]

Ulmaceae

Planera sp. [E]

Trema sp. [E]

Ulmus? Pseudofulva [E]

Ulmus or Zelkova sp. [E]

Zelkkova browni [E]

Zelkovoxylon occidentale [E]

Utricaceae

Utrica sp. [Q]

Vitaceae

Cissus haguei [E]

Parthenocissus sp. [E]

Vitis sp. [E]

INSERTAE SEDIS

Pteridophyta

Deltoidospora diaphana [E]

Deltoidospora hallii [E]

?Leiotriletes sp. [E]

Spermatophyta

Phyllites crassifolia [E]

Thomsonipollis sp. [E]

PROTOZOA

Endothyra baileyi [M]

PORIFERA

Holasterella wrighti [M]

COELENTERATA

Actinostroma sp. [D]

Aulopora geometrica [M]

Cladopora sp. [D]

Clisiophyllum teres [M]

Cyathophyllum caespitosum [D]

Favosites sp. [D]

Lithostrotion sp. [M]

Menophyllum excavatum [M]

Michelinia placenta [M]

Pachyphyllum sp. [D]

Syringopora aculeata [M]

Syringopora surcularia [M]

BRYOZOA

Anisotrypa sp. [M]

Eridopora sp. [M]

Fenestella sp. [M]

Ptilopora sp. [M]

Stictoporella sp. [M]

ARTHROPODA

Insecta

Amara sp. [Q]

Aphodius sp. [Q]

Bembidion sp. [Q]

Daphnia sp. [Q]

Ichthebius sp. [Q]

Tachinus elongatus [Q]

Trilobitomorpha

Agnostus bidens [C]

Agnostus interstrictus [C]

Agnostus tumidosus [C]

Arionellus sp. [C]

Crepicephalus texanus [C]

Liostracus parvus [C]

Proetus loganensis [M]

Proetus peroccidens [M]

Ptychoparia antiquata [C]

Ptychoparia penfieldi [C]

Solenopleura weedi [C]

Zaconthoides sp. [C]

Appendices
Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 41

MOLLUSCA

Cepalpoda

Baculites sp. [K]

Belemnites densus [J]

Scaphites sp. [K]

Gastropoda

Amnicola cretacea [K]

Goniobasis increbescens [K]

Goniobasis pealei [K]

Loxonema delicatum [D]

Loxonema sp. [M]

Lysoma powelli [J]

Naticopsis sp. [M]

Platyceras primordialis [C]

Platyceras sp. [M]

Platystoma minutum [D]

Pleurotomaria isaacsi [D]

Straparollus utahensis [M]

Pelecypoda

Anatina punctata [J]

Astarte meeki [J]

Camptonectes distans [J]

Camptonectes pertenuistriatus [J]

Camptonectes stygius [J]

Corbula subtrigonalis [K]

Cypricardia haguei [J]

Gervillia dolabrata [J]

Gervillia montanensis [J]

Gryphaea sp. [J]

Homomya gallatinensis [J]

Inoceramus acuteplicatus [K]

Inoceramus flaccidus [K]

Inoceramus umbonatus [K]

Inoceramus undabundus [K]

Ostrea sp. [J;K]

Pholadomya inaequiplicata [J]

Pholadomya kingi [J]

Pinna jurassica [J]

Pleuromya hectica [J]

Pleuromya subcompressa [J]

Pleuromya weberensis [J]

Thracia montanaensis [J]

Thracia weedi [J]

Unio sp. [K]

Rostrochonchia

Conocardium pulchellum [M]

HYOLITHA

Hyolithes primordialis [C]

BRACHIOPODA

Acrotreta gemma [C]

Athyris incrassata [M]

Athyris lamellosa [M]

Athyris vittata [D]

Atrypa missouriensis [D]

Atrypa reticularis [D]

Billingsella coloradoensis [C]

Camarophoria ringens [M]

Camarotoechia camarifera [M]

Camarotoechia herrickana [M]

Camarotoechia metallica [M]

Camarotoechia sappho [M]

Chonetes loganensis [M]

Chonetes ornatus [M]

Cliothyris crassicardinalis [M]

Cliothyris roissyi [M]

Crania laevis [M]

Derbya keokuk [M]

Dicellomus nanus [C]

Dielasma utah [M]

Eumetria verneuiliana [M]

Iphidea sculptilis [C]

Kallirhynchia myrina [J]

Leptaena rhomboidalis [M]

Lingula sp. [T]

Lingula subspatulata [K]

Lingulella acuminatus [C]

Lingulella desideratus [C]

Liorhynchus haguei [M]

Martinia rostrata [M]

Orthis remnicha [C]

Orthis sandbergi [C]

Orthothetes inaequalis [M]

Productella alifera [M]

Productella cooperensis [M]

Productus gallatinensis [M]

Productus laevicosta [M]

Productus parviformis [M]

Productus scabriculus [M]

Productus semireticulatus [M]

Reticularia cooperensis [M]

Rhipidomella michelini [M]

Seminula humilis [M]

Seminula immatura [M]

Seminula madisonensis [M]

Spirifer centronatus [M]

Spirifer engelmanni [D]

Spirifer marionensis [M]
42

Spirifer striatus [M]

Spirifer subattenuatus [M]

Spiriferina solidirostris [M]

ECHINODERMATA

Pentacrinus asteriscus [J]

Platycrinus symmetricus [M]

Scaphiocrinus sp. [M]

FISH

indeterminate fish bone,

teeth and scales [P,K]

cf. Helodus sp.

REPTILIA

CHELONIA

indeterminate turtle shell [K]

DINOSAURIA

indeterminate dinosaur bones

and eggshell [K]

PLESIOSAURIA

Plesiosaur (unidentified) [K]

MAMMALIA

INSECTIVORA

Soricidae

Sorex cinereus [H]

Sorex vagrans [H]

Sorex palustris [H]

Sorex merriami [H]

Sorex hoyi [H]

CHIROPTERA

Vespertilionidae

Myotis sp. [H]

LAGOMORPHA

Leporidae

Sylvilagus nuttallii [H]

Sylvilagus audubonii [H]

Lepus americanus [H]

Lepus townsendii [H]

RODENTIA

Scoirodae

Tamias sp. [H]

Marmota flaviventris [H]

Spermophilus armatus [H]

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus [H]

Geomyidae

Thomomys talpoides [H]

Castoridae

Castor canadensis [H]

Cricetidae

Peromyscus cf. maniculatus [H]

Neotoma cinerea [H]

Clethrionomys cf. gapperi [H]

Phenacomys intermedius [H]

Ondatra zibethicus [H]

Microtus pennsylvanicus [H]

M. montanus/longicaudus [H]

Microtus ochrogaster [H]

Zapodidae

Zapus cf. priceps [H]

CARNIVORA

Canidae

Canis latrans [H]

Canis lupus [H]

Vulpes vulpes [H]

Ursidae

Ursus arctos [H]

Mustelidae

Mustela cf. frenata [H]

Taxidea taxus [H]

Mephitis mephitis [H]

 ARTIODACTYLA

Cervidae

Cervus elaphus [H]

Antilocapridae

Antilocapra americana [H]

Bovidae

Bison bison [H]

Ovis canadensis [H]

Appendices
Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 43

Project Statement #1

Project Number: YELL-N

Title: Inventory and Photodocument Paleontologic

Resources

Funding Status: Funded: 0; Unfunded: 96.00

Servicewide Issues:

N20 - Lack of Basic Data; Insufficient Understanding of

Park Ecosystems and Threats to Them

N23 - Loss of Paleontologic Resources

Problem Statement:

Preliminary research reveals that paleontological

resources are abundantly preserved at Yellowstone

National Park. In 1996, at least twenty stratigraphic units

were identified containing significant fossil resources.

Parkwide the number and distribution of paleontological

localities are unknown, however, due to the lack of a

comprehensive and systematic field inventory.

The lack of basic data regarding the significance,

distribution and threats related to the paleontological

resources limits park staff’s ability to properly manage

this non-renewable resource. The scientific and interpretive value of Yellowstone’s fossils, excluding paleoflora,

remains relatively unrecognized. The ancient

Yellowstone Ecosystem remains to be discovered within

the park’s sedimentary rocks.

Description of Recommended Project or Activity:

A detailed literature search and should be conducted

at the beginning of the project, to provide an inventory of

known sites and specimens.

A paleontological locality inventory and monitoring

program needs to be established for Yellowstone National

Park. Most of the park’s fossil localities are not recorded

and are unknown to park management. These fossil

localities should be documented to allow their distribution and significance to be integrated into park management programs.

The park needs to establish and develop a

paleonotologic resource database. The paleo-database

will include all geographic, stratigraphic, taxonomic and

taphonomic information related to Yellowstone’s fossil

record. Additionally, a paleontologic resources locality

map would be produced and incorporated into the park’s

GIS system. The development of a paleontological

inventory and monitoring program includes the establishment of a cyclic locality monitoring schedule.

The program includes the hiring of a staff paleontologist to direct the Inventory and Monitoring Program. The

paleontologist will supervise a team of students and

volunteers to photodocument and map all unrecorded

fossil localities, to record all relevant associated data,

develop paleo-resource database, to preserve or collect

any significant fossil specimens, and assist curatorial staff

with paleo-specimen curation.

Year 1: Hire paleontologist. Inventory park paleontological localities and photodocument.

Year 2: Continue to inventory paleontological localities and photodocument.

Year 3: Complete inventory of paleontological localities and publish

photojournal with descriptions of

all park fossil localities. Produce

paleo-locality map through GIS.

Incorporate paleontologic resource

data into park management and

planning documents.

Budget and FTEs

Unfunded

 Act Budget

Year Source Type ($1000s) FTEs

1 PKBASE-NR MON 32.00 1.0

2 PKBASE-NR MON 32.00 1.0

3 PKBASE-NR MON 32.00 1.0

Alternative Actions/Solutions and Impacts

1) No Action. Continue to manage Yellowstone’s

paleontological resources without the benefits of an

inventory and monitoring program. The lack of a

cyclic monitoring schedule will be inefficient and

thereby increase the potential that valuable fossil

specimens will remain undiscovered and lost

through erosion or theft.

APPENDIX C

RMP Paleontological Project Statements
44

2) Develop a Paleontological Locality Inventory and

Monitoring Program for Yellowstone National Park.

Photodocument and map all park fossil localities

and develop a paleontological locality database.

Establish a cyclic monitoring schedule for fossil

localities.

Compliance Code: EXCL

Explanation: 516 DM2 APP. 2, 1.6

Project Statement #2

Project Number: YELL-N

Title: Preserve Threatened Paleontological Resources

Funding Status: Funded: 0; Unfunded: 36.00

Servicewide Issues:

N20 - Lack of Basic Data; Insufficient Understanding of

Park Ecosystems and Threats to Them

N23 - Loss of Paleontologic Resources

Problem Statement:

Management of paleontological resources present

intriguing challenges. The balance between conflicting

demands of preservation, research and visitor access must

be recognized. The principle threats to paleontological

resources include loss due to erosion and development,

and illegal fossil collecting. Each of these threats impact

the integrity of paleontological localities for research and

visitor education.

Erosion is a natural process that continually destroys

exposed fossils and uncovers previously buried material.

The natural erosion cycle is often disrupted by excessive

visitor traffic, construction, or other developments.

Paleontological resources are not typically considered in

pre-construction surveys, which may result in the

unnecessary loss of fossil material.

An increasing interest in fossils by the public,

coupled to a growing commercial fossil market, is

becoming a significant threat to fossil resources preserved in national parks. Illegal fossil collecting can be

classified into three categories: 1) inadvertent casual

collecting, 2) intentional casual collecting, and 3)

intensive intentional collecting. These range from

souvenir hunting to systematic removal of the most

valuable specimens to be sold in the commercial fossil

market.

Although Yellowstone National Park contains

significant paleontological resources, there is not an

ongoing program to mitigate the threats to paleontological resources. Such a program would address all aspects

of park management, including interpretation, protection,

maintenance and resource management.

Description of Recommended Project or Activity:

A paleontological resources protection program

should be integrated into the environmental review

process at Yellowstone National Park. The program

should identify and mitigate the threats to known

paleontological resources and contain a strategy for

identifying impacts on previously unrecorded fossil

resources (through surveys, literature review, etc.).

The park program should also establish a member(s)

of the park staff to evaluate paleontological resource

threats and develop strategies to reduce these threats. In

particular, to identify ongoing programs or existing

practices that impact park fossils.

Budget and FTEs

Unfunded

Act Budget

Year Source Type ($1000s) FTEs

1 PKBASE-NR MON 12.00 0.3

2 PKBASE-NR MON 12.00 0.3

3 PKBASE-NR MON 12.00 0.3

Alternative Actions/Solutions and Impacts:

1) No Action. Continue to manage and protect

Yellowstone’s paleontological resources based on a

cursory understanding of the threats. Fossil

resources may remain unrecognized and be lost

through development, theft or neglect. Scientifically significant localities may experience adverse

impacts.

2) Develop a park level paleontological resource

program for the management and protection of

threatened paleontological resources. Incorporate

paleontological resources into management planning and decision making.

Compliance Code(s): EXCL

Explanation: 516 DM2 APP. 2, 1.6

Appendices
Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 45

Dr. Michael Arct

Department of Natural Science

Loma Linda University

Loma Linda, CA 92350

(909) 824-4530

Kenneth K. Cannon

National Park Service

Midwest Archeological Center

100 Centennial Mall North, Rm 474

Lincoln, NE 68508-3873

(402)437-5392

Scott A. Elias

INSTAAR, University of Colorado

Box 450

Boulder, CO 80309-0450

(303)492-5158

William J. Fritz

Department of Geology

Georgia State University

340 Kell Hall

Atlanta, GA 30303

(404) 651-2272

Jack Horner

Museum of the Rockies

600 West Kagy Blvd.

Bozeman, MT 59717

(406) 994-2251

Dr. Timothy Jones

Universitat Tubingen

Institute for Geology & Paleontology

Sigwartstrasse IO

Tubingen, Germany 7400

Mr. Donald R. Lowe

Standford University

Department of Geology

Stanford University

Stanford, CA 94305

Ms. C.L. Powell

Kings College

Department of Geology and Petroleum

Meiton Building

Aberdeen, Scotland AB92UE

Dr. Bruce Runnegar

University of California, Los Angeles

405 Hilgard Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90024-1567

(310) 825-3880

Vincent L. Santucci

National Park Service

P.O. Box 592

Kemmerer, WY 83101

(307) 877-4455

Dr. Clyde L. Webster, Jr.

Loma Linda University

Geoscience Research Institute

Loma Linda, CA 92350

Scott Wing

Dept. Paleobiology

NHB-121

Smithsonian Institute

Washington, DC 20560

APPENDIX D

Paleontology Researchers at Yellowstone
46

APPENDIX E

Fossil Specimens in Park Collections

Acc# Cat# Description Locality

121 1304

1330

2317

2318

2322

2323

Mollusc

Mollusc

Trilobite

Mollusc

Petrified wood

Leaf

Absaroka Mt, Cooke City*

Absaroka Mt, Cooke City *

YNP

Absaroka Mt, Cooke City*

Elk Creek

152 1202 Fossil horse bones Chalk Cliff

170 7471 Petrified wood

200 2315 Mollusc Gallatin

239 1250

1251-57

1258-63

1264-65

1266-73

1274

1275

1276

1277-80

1281

1282

1283

1284

1285-86

1287

1288-89

1290

1291

1292-93

1294-96

1297-1302

2464

2465

2471

11391

11392-93

11394-95

11396

11397-98

11399

11400-01

11402

Pelecypod

Pelecypod

Pelecypod

Pelecypod

Brachiopod (Ellis)

Pelecypod (Ellis)

Pelecypod

Pelecypod (Ellis)

Pelecypod

Pelecypod

Pelecypod

Pelecypod

Pelecypod

Pelecypod

Pelecypod

Pelecypod

Echinoderm

Brachiopod (Ellis)

Pelecypod

Pelecypod (Ellis)

Pelecypod

Pelecypod

Pelecypod

Coelenterata

Brachiopod

Brachiopod

Brachiopod

Brachiopod

Brachiopod

Brachiopod

Brachiopod

Brachiopod

Gravel Peak

Cinnabar Mt

Swan Lake Valley

Fawn Pass

SW of 2nd Crossing of Snake

Fawn Creek Pass

Flagstaff Creek

Head of Gardiner River

Cinnabar Mt

Swan Lake Valley

Flagstaff Creek, Castle Mt

Flagstaff Creek, Castle Mt

2nd Crossing Snake River

Cinnabar Mt

Swan Lake Valley

Cinnabar Mt

East Slope Sheridan Peak

NE Spur Peak W Coulton Creek

Fawn Creek

Saddle W Gardner River

Gardiner River

Fawn Creek Pass

Foothills S of Glade Creek

Valley bottom upper Gallatin Canyon

Fort Belkamp

Gallatin Valley

People Creek Canyon, Fort Belkamp

Gallatin Valley

Triangle Peak, Fork E Border

Ridge N Gallatin Bridge

Teton Creek

Logan

Appendices
Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 47

Acc# Cat# Description Locality

* Removed/deaccessioned.

** Now in National Museum of Natural History; collected by Hayden in 1872.

*** Cretaceous fossils in drift in valley holding headwaters of Gardiner River, south base of

Electric Peak.

  Found north of Mount Sepulcher in foothills from light brown soft shale; collected in 1946.

** *** West side of round brown mud (Shale) hill east of Old Gardiner Road, just north of Beaver

Ponds parking area; collected in 1936.

239 (cont.) 11403-04

11405

11406

11442

11443

11444

11445

11446-50

11451-56

11457-59

11460-61

11462-64

11465-66

Brachiopod

Brachiopod

Brachiopod

Pelecypod and fish scale

Inoceramus

Inoceramus

Baculites

Gastropod

Gastropod

Ostrea

Baculites

Pelecypod Corbula

Gastropod

South side Gallatin Valley

Logan

East side of Gallatin River

Foothills south of Glade Creek**

East Bluff Mission Creek

Foothills S Glade Creek

Cinnabar Mountain

Ridge N Gardiner River (Dakota)

Gallatin Range (Dakota SS)

N Head Gardiner River

Cinnabar Mountain

South base of Electric Peak***

Ridge N Gardiner River (Dakota)

257 2451-55 Inoceramus South face of Mount Everts

277 4063 Dinosaur bone Hill East Gardiner Road*****

313 11359-61 Petrified wood

354 4064

4065

Dinosaur bone

Dinosaur bone

N Mt Sepulcher 

N Mt Sepulcher** **

362 3064 Petrified wood Green Lake

390 2477 Dragonfly wing cast Riverside Geyser?

442 10289

10319

Pelecypod

Leaf

Mount Everts

Crescent Hill

450 3100 Leaf Specimen Ridge

495 8312

8313

11380

Leaf

Leaf

Petrified wood

Specimen Ridge

Specimen Ridge

Gallatin Fossil Forest

626 1910 Limb cast Specimen Ridge Fossil Forest

655 11626 Leaves Mount Everts

663 2501-06 Hickory nut impress Mount Hornaday
48

Abies lapidea (Beyer, 1954)

Specimen Ridge

Type: CINC B-788 with slides; Isotypes: B-710, B-717,

B-759, B-793

Cupressinoxylon lamarense (Read, 1930)

Specimen Ridge, Yancey’s Forest

Univ.Calif.Col.Pal.Bot. no. 1281, slides 1281a-g

Equus nebraskensis (McKenna, 1996, pers. commun.)

YPM-PU 14673

Fagus grandiporosa (Beyer, 1954)

Specimen Ridge

Type: CINC B-807 with slides

Huenella weedi (Walcott, 1899)

Smithsonian Institution

Type: I-069797

Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, vol. 67, p.522

Libocedrus decurrenoides (Beyer, 1954)

Specimen Ridge

Type: CINC B-718 with slides; Isotypes: B-681, B-700,

B-724, B-754, B-813

Pinus baumani (Read, 1930) (possibly type)

Fossil Forest/Specimen Ridge

Univ.Calif.Col.Pal.Bot. no. 1278, slides 1278a-f

Pinus fallax (Felix, 1896)

Fossil Forest/Specimen Ridge, Yancey’s Forest, Crescent

Hill

USNM Col Pal Bot. no. 110-112, 122-124, 131-133, 158-

163

Univ.Calif.Col.Pal.Bot. no. 1279, slides 1279a-b, 1280a-e

Pinus pseudotsugoides (Beyer, 1954)

Specimen Ridge

Type: CINC B-725; Isotype: CINC B-763 with slides

Piceoxylon laricinoides (Beyer, 1954)

Specimen Ridge

Type: CINC B-714 with slides

Quercus rubida (Beyer, 1954)

Specimen Ridge

Type: CINC B-229 with slides (Ohio University Museum); CINC B824a

Sequoia magnifica (Knowlton, 1899)

Fossil Forest/Specimen Ridge, Yancey’s Forest, Crescent

Hill

USNM Col Pal Bot. no. 143-150, 155-157

Univ.Calif.Col.Pal.Bot. no. 1282, slides 1282a-d, 1041a-b

Thuja xantholitica (Beyer, 1954)

Specimen Ridge

Type: CINC B-782 with slides; Isotypes: B-736, B-740,

B-757, B-784

Other Outside Repositories

Paleobotanical collections at the University of

California (Read, 1930). Specimen numbers include

1278, 1279, 1281, 1282 with slides.

Paleobotanical collections of the University of

Cincinnati (Beyer, 1954). Fossil plant material was

collected in 1941, by Dr. J.H. Hoskins, Univ. Cincinnati,

Dr. Th.K. Just, Chicago Museum of Natural History, Dr.

A.T. Cross, West Virginia Geological Survey & WV

University, and Dr. A.H. Blickle, Ohio University.

Specimen numbers include B641-B824a. Specimen B229 holotype for Quercus rubida is housed in the

Museum of Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.

Yale Peabody Museum collections include numerous

brachiopods which may include one “type” specimen.

There is also a report that a Pleistocene horse Equus

nebraskensis from Yellowstone is in the collections.

Appendices

Appendix F

Yellowstone Fossils in Outside Repositories
Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 49

Appendix G. GIS Stratigraphy Maps

Paleozoic Fossiliferous Sedimentary Units

Paleozoic Units

Madison Formation

Wolsey, Meagher, and other formations

Snowy Range and Pilgrim formations

Bighorn and other formations

Major lakes

Boundary

N

W E

S

5 0 5 10 15 20 Kilometers
50 Appendices

N

W E

S

5 0 5 10 15 20

Mesozoic Fossiliferous Sedimentary Units

Kilometers

 Mesozoic Units

Ellis Group

Morrison Formation

Cloverly Formation

Frontier Formation

Cody Shale, Telegraph Creek Formation, 

Frontier Sandstone and others

Kootenai Formation and others

Mowry and Thermopolis shales

Major lakes

Boundary
Yellowstone Paleontological Survey 51

 Cenozoic Units

Lamar River Formation

Langford Formation

Sepulcher Formation

Wapiti Formation

Wiggins Formation

Major lakes

Boundary

Cenozoic Fossiliferous Units

N

W E

S

5 0 5 10 15 20 Kilometers