Como Bluff is a long ridge extending east–west, located between the towns of Rock River and Medicine Bow, Wyoming. The ridge is an anticline, formed as a result of compressional geological folding. Three geological formations, the Sundance, the Morrison, and the Cloverly Formations, containing fossil remains from the Late Jurassic of the Mesozoic Era are exposed.
Como Bluff | |
 Multicolored (variegated) beds of the Morrison Formation at Como Bluff, Wyoming. Many historical dinosaur sites are located along the flanks of the bluff. The Sundance Formation is visible as the reddish beds at the base of the bluff. | |
   | |
| Location | taken near Aurora Lake (a.k.a. Como Lake). |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Rock River-Medicine Bow |
| Coordinates | 41°54′58″N 106°03′51″W / 41.91611°N 106.06417°W |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001925 |
| Added to NRHP | January 18, 1973 |
Nineteenth-century paleontologists discovered many well-preserved specimens of dinosaurs, as well as mammals, turtles, crocodilians, and fish from the Morrison Formation. Because of this, Como Bluff is considered to be one of the major sites for the early discovery of dinosaur remains. Among the species discovered is the only known specimen of Coelurus. Significant discoveries were made in 22 different areas scattered along the entire length of the ridge. It is included on the National Register of Historic Places as well as the National Natural Landmark list.
History of discovery
edit
The discovery of dinosaurs at Como Bluff has been recounted numerous times, most notably by Schuchert and LeVene,[1] Shur,[2] Ostrom and McIntosh,[3] and Jaffe.[4] Most of the specimens were collected by men working for O.C. Marsh between 1877 and 1889, although some were collected by the Hubbel brothers for E.D. Cope between 1879 and 1880.[5] The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) excavated in 1897 [1]-1898 [2], finding two partial skeletons of sauropods. A summary of the quarries and their contents is given below.
In later years, the American Museum of Natural History and Yale University jointly reopened Quarry 9, the Mammal Quarry, 1968–1970, finding only a few specimens.[6] More recently, Robert Bakker has done some collecting there with a variety of groups.
In addition to the major significance of dinosaur discoveries at Como Bluff, the site has also been the source of significant early mammal fossils. In early 1878, Marsh was ecstatic to find that one of his men had uncovered a fossil from a Jurassic mammal. Within a year, the historic Quarry 9 at Como was discovered, producing an astounding 250 specimens, which increased the knowledge of Jurassic mammals exponentially.[7]
Como Bluff historical quarries (pre-1900)
editData source:.[8] [9] .[10] .[11] (h)= holotype
AMNH Quarries
editExcavated by the American Museum of Natural History
AMNH Quarry 1
editAMNH Quarry 2
edit- Dinosauria
- Saurischia
- Sauropoda
AMNH localities unknown
edit(some could be from Quarry 1 or 2)
- Reptilia
- Testudines
- Amphichelydia
- Squamata
- ?Sauria indeterminant
- Lacertilia
- Paramacellodus sp.
- Choristodera
- Crocodilia
Frederick Brown's Quarries
editBrown's Quarry A
edit- Dinosauria
- Ornithischia
Brown's Quarry B
edit- Dinosauria
- Ornithischia
- Stegosauria
- Stegosaurus sp.
- Stegosauria
Brown's Quarry C
edit- Dinosauria
- Saurischia
Brown's Quarry D
edit- Dinosauria
- Saurischia
- Theropoda
- Allosaurus fragilis
- Theropoda
Brown's Quarry G
edit- Dinosauria
- Saurischia
- Sauropoda
- Camarasaurus sp.
- Sauropoda
Arthur Lakes Quarry 1A. (Big Canyon Quarry)
editExcavated by Arthur Lakes.
- Dinosauria
- Saurischia
- Theropoda
- Allosaurus sp.
- Sauropoda
- Camarasaurus sp.
- Theropoda
- Ornithischia
- Ornithopoda
- Camptosaurus amplus (h) (now Allosaurus sp.)
- Ornithopoda
E.D. Cope's Quarries
editExcavated by Edward Drinker Cope
Cope's Quarry 3
edit- Dinosauria
- Saurischia
- Theropoda
- Allosaurus sp.
- Theropoda
Cope's Quarry 4
edit- Dinosauria
- Saurischia
- Theropoda
- Allosaurus sp.
- Theropoda
- Ornithischia
- Stegosauria
- Stegosaurus sp.
- Stegosauria
Cope's Quarry 5
edit- Reptilia
- Pterosauria
- Dinosauria
- Saurischia
- Sauropoda
- Apatosaurus sp.
- Sauropoda
Cope's localities unknown
edit(could be from Quarry 1, 2)
- Reptilia
- Testudines
- Amphichelydia
- Dinochelys sp.
- Glyptops plicatus
- Amphichelydia
- Crocodilia
- Mesosuchia
- Goniopholis sp.
- Mesosuchia
- Dinosauria
- Ornithischia
- Ornithopoda
- ?Camptosaurus sp.
- Stegosauria
- Stegosaurus sp.
- Ornithopoda
- Mammalia
- genus and species indeterminant
William Harlow Reed's Quarries
editExcavated by William Harlow Reed.
Reed's Quarry 1
edit- Dinosauria
- Saurischia
- Theropoda
- Allosaurus atrox (h) (now Allosaurus fragilis)
- Sauropoda
- Camarasaurus grandis (h)
- Camarasaurus impar (h) (now Camarasaurus grandis)
- Camarasaurus robustus (h) (now Camarasaurus grandis)
- Pleurocoelus montanus (h) (now Camarasaurus grandis)
- Diplodocus sp.
- Theropoda
- Mammalia
-
- genus and species indeterminant
Reed's Quarry 1 ½
edit- Dinosauria
- Saurischia
- Theropoda
- Allosaurus fragilis
- Sauropoda
- genus and species indeterminant
- Theropoda
Reed's Quarry 2
edit- Dinosauria
- Saurischia
- Sauropoda
- Apatosaurus sp.
- Sauropoda
Reed's Quarry 3
edit- Dinosauria
- Saurischia
- Theropoda
- Allosaurus lucaris (h) (now Allosaurus sp.)
- Sauropoda
- Camarasaurus grandis
- Theropoda
- Ornithischia
- Ornithopoda
- Dryosaurus sp.
- Stegosauria
- Stegosaurus sp.
- Ornithopoda
Reed's Quarry 4
edit- Dinosauria
- Saurischia
- Theropoda
- Allosaurus fragilis
- Sauropoda
- Apatosaurus sp.
- Barosaurus sp.
- Camarasaurus sp.
- Theropoda
- Ornithischia
- Stegosauria
- Stegosaurus sp.
- Stegosauria
Reed's Quarry 5
edit- Reptilia
- Pterosauria
- Dermodactylus montanus (h) (now nomen dubium)
- Dinosauria
- Saurischia
- Sauropoda
- Diplodocus sp.
- Sauropoda
- Ornithischia
- Ornithopoda
- Dryosaurus altus (h)
- Ornithopoda
Reed's Quarry 6
edit- Reptilia
- Crocodylia
- Mesosuchia
- Goniopholis sp.
- Mesosuchia
Reed's Quarry 7 (Three Trees Quarry)
edit- Dinosauria
- Ornithischia
- Ornithopoda
- Laosaurus consors (h) (now Othnielosaurus consors)
- Ornithopoda
Reed's Quarry 8
edit- Reptilia
- Testudines
- genus and species indeterminant
- Crocodilia
- Mesosuchia
- Goniopholis sp.
- Mesosuchia
- Dinosauria
- Saurischia
- Theropoda
- Allosaurus sp.
- Coelurus fragilis
- Sauropoda
- Camarasaurus sp.
- Diplodocus sp.
- Theropoda
- Ornithischia
- Stegosauria
- Stegosaurus sp.
- Stegosauria
Reed's Quarry 9 (Mammal Quarry)
edit- Osteichthyes
- Actinopterygii
- genus and species indeterminant
- Amiiformes
- Ophiopsis sp.
- Sarcopterygii
- Amphibia
- Anura
- Discoglossoidea
- Pelobatidae indeterminant
- Pipoidea?
- Caudata
- genus and species indeterminant
- Comonecturoides marshi (h)
- Reptilia
- Testudines
- Amphichelydia
- Dinochelys whitei
- Glyptops ornatus
- Amphichelydia
- Squamata
- ?Sauria indeterminant
- Lacertilia
- Dorsetisaurus sp.
- Paramacellodus sp.
- Rhynchocephalia
- Opisthias rarus (h)
- Theretairus antiquus (h)
- Choristodera
- Cteniogenys antiquus (h)
- Crocodylia
- Sphenosuchia
- Mesosuchia
- Goniopholis sp.
- Dinosauria
- Saurischia
- Theropoda
- Allosaurus fragilis
- Ceratosaurus nasicornis
- Coelurus fragilis
- Ornitholestes hermanni?
- Tyrannosauroidea
- Sauropoda
- Macronaria indeterminant
- Diplodocidae indeterminant
- Theropoda
- Ornithischia
- Ornithopoda
- Othnielosaurus consors
- Dryosaurus sp.
- Camptosaurus sp.
- Ornithopoda
- Stegosauria
- Stegosaurus sp.
- Pterosauria
- Rhamphorhynchoidea
- Laopteryx priscus (h) (now nomen dubium)
- Rhamphorhynchoidea
- Mammalia
- Docodonta
- Docodontidae
- Docodon affinis (h)
- Docodon crassus (h)
- Docodon striatus (h)
- Docodon superus (h)
- Docodon victor (h)
- Docodontidae
- Multituberculata
- Allodontidae
- Ctenacodon laticeps (h)
- Ctenacodon scindens (h)
- Ctenacodon serratus (h)
- Psalodon fortis (h)
- Psalodon potens (h)
- ?Psalodon marshi (h)
- Allodontidae
- Triconodonta
- Amphilestidae
- Aploconodon comoensis (h)
- Comodon gidleyi (h)
- Triconodontidae
- Priacodon ferox (h)
- Priacodon grandaevus (h)
- Priacodon lulli (h)
- Priacodon robustus (h)
- Trioracodon bisulcus (h)
- Amphilestidae
- Symmetrodonta
- Dryolestida
- Dryolestidae
- Amblotherium gracilis (h)
- Dryolestes priscus
- Dryolestes obtusus (h)
- Dryolestes vorax (h)
- Laolestes eminens (h)
- Laolestes (Melanodon) goodrichi (h)
- Laolestes (Melanodon) oweni (h)
- Miccylotyrans minimus (h)
- Paurodontidae
- Araeodon intermissus (h)
- Archaeotrigon brevimaxillus (h)
- Archaeotrigon distagmus (h)
- Comotherium richi (h)
- Euthlastus cordiformis (h)
- Paurodon valens (h)
- Tathiodon agilis (h)
- Dryolestidae
Reed's Quarry 10
edit- Dinosauria
- Saurischia
- Sauropoda
- Brontosaurus excelsus (h)
- Sauropoda
Reed's Quarry 11
edit- Dinosauria
- Saurischia
- Sauropoda
- Apatosaurus amplus (h) (now Brontosaurus excelsus)
- Sauropoda
- Ornithischia
- Stegosauria
- Stegosaurus duplex (h) (now Stegosaurus ungulatus)
- Stegosauria
- Mammalia
- genus and species indeterminant
Reed's Quarry 12 (Robbers' Roost Quarry)
edit- Reptilia
- Testudines
- genus and species indeterminant
- Crocodylia
- Mesosuchia
- Goniopholis sp.
- Mesosuchia
- Dinosauria
- Saurischia
- Theropoda
- Allosaurus sp.
- Torvosaurus tanneri
- Coelurus sp.
- Fosterovenator churei
- Sauropoda
- Camarasaurus sp.
- Diplodocus sp.
- Theropoda
- Ornithischia
- ornithopoda
- genus and species indeterminant
- Stegosauria
- Stegosaurus ungulatus (h)
Reed's Quarry 13
edit- Reptilia
- Testudines
- Amphichelydia
- Glyptops plicatulus
- Amphichelydia
- Crocodylia
- Mesosuchia
- Goniopholis sp.
- Mesosuchia
- Dinosauria
- Saurischia
- Theropoda
- Coelurus agilis (h) (part of Coelurus fragilis holotype)
- Coelurus fragilis (h)
- Theropoda
- Saurischia
- Sauropoda
- ?Brachiosaurus sp.
- Camarasaurus lentus (h)
- Diplodocus sp.
- Sauropoda
- Ornithischia
- Ornithopoda
- Camptonotus dispar (h) (now Camptosaurus dispar)
- Camptosaurus medius (h)
- Camptosaurus nanus (h)
- Camptosaurus browni (h)
- Dryosaurus sp.
- Stegosauria
- Diracodon laticeps (h) (now Stegosaurus sp.)
- Stegosaurus sulcatus (h)
- Stegosaurus stenops
- Stegosaurus ungulatus
- Ornithopoda
Reed Quarry 14
edit- Dinosauria
- Saurischia
- Theropoda
- Allosaurus ferox (h) (now Allosaurus fragilis)
- Theropoda
See also
edit- List of fossil sites (with link directory)
References
edit- ^ Schuchert, C., and LeVene, C.M. 1940. O.C.Marsh, Pioneer in Paleontology. Yale University Press, New Haven.
- ^ Shur, E. 1974. The Fossil Feud. Exposition Press, NY. 340p.
- ^ Ostrom, J. H., and McIntosh, J.S. 1966. Marsh's Dinosaurs: The Collections from Como Bluff. Yale University Press, New Haven.
- ^ Jaffe, M. 2000. The Gilded Dinosaur. Crown Publ., New York.
- ^ McCarren, Mark J. The Scientific Contributions of Othniel Charles Marsh, pp 1, 8, 19-20, Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. ISBN 0-912532-32-7.
- ^ Prothero, D.R. 1981. New Jurassic mammals from Como Bluff, Wyoming, and the interrelationships of non-tribosphenic Theria. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 167: 281:325
- ^ McCarren, Mark J. The Scientific Contributions of Othniel Charles Marsh, pp 1, 7-8, 19-20, Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. ISBN 0-912532-32-7.
- ^ Ostrom and McIntosh
- ^ Carrano, M.T., and Velez-Juarbe, J. 2006. Paleoecology of the Quarry 9 vertebrate assemblage from Como Bluff, Wyoming (Morrison Formation, Late Jurassic). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 237:147-159.
- ^ Foster, J.R. 2003. Paleoecological analysis of the vertebrate fauna of the Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic), Rocky Mountain region, USA. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science 23:1-95.
- ^ Division of Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History| Archived 2007-02-24 at the Wayback Machine
External links
edit
Media related to Como Bluff at Wikimedia Commons
- Como Bluffs fossil quarries
- Como Bluff at the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office
- Dinosaur Fossil Cabin Museum