The Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument in Idaho is internationally recognized for its fossil horse, Equus simplicidens, which is the earliest specimen of the horse genus. This is also the Idaho State Fossil. In addition to the horse, 140 species of other fossil animals have been documented at this site.
Paleontology
In his book The Blind Watchmaker: Why the Evidence of Evolution Reveals a Universe Without Design, Richard Dawkins writes:
“Paleontology is the study of fossils. It is a very important branch of biology, because evolutionary ancestors all died long ago and fossils provide us with our only direct evidence of the mammals and plants of the distant past. If we want to know what our evolutionary ancestors looked like, fossils are our main hope.”
Borophagus
This hyena-like dog had a large head with powerful jaw muscles which enabled them to crush bones.
Beaver
During the Pleistocene, the largest rodents were beavers (family Castoridae). The Giant Beaver (Castorides ohiosensis) was about the size of a large black bear and weight 330-440 pounds. It was about nine feet long and was about three feet tall at the shoulder. The American Beaver (Castor canadensis) is the living representative of the family Castoridae.
Hagerman’s Lake Cat
Hagerman’s Lake Cat (Felis lacustris) may be an ancestor of the bobcat.
More Paleontology 101
Paleontology 101: The North American Camel
Paleontology 101: The Hagerman Horse, Equus Simplicidens
Paleontology 101: Dinosaur Hall (Photo Diary)
Paleontology 101: Wolves, Dogs, Cats, and Bears (Photo Diary)
Paleontology 101: The Mesozoic--The Age of Dinosaurs (Photo Diary)
Paleontology 101: Bison and Camels at La Brea Tar Pits
Paleontology 101: American Mastodons at the La Brea Tar Pits
Paleontology 101: Sloths at La Brea Tar Pits