by Yolanda
Thursday,
October 25, 2001 was the day that all delegates were waiting
for. Finally after a year of preparation and research, the
man behind the scenes of the world's largest crocodilian
would be announcing to the public. University of Chicago
paleontologist and professor in the Organismal Biology and
Anatomy department, Dr. Paul Sereno took the spotlight after
discovering Sarcosuchus imperator on his 2000 Expedition
to the Sahara Desert.
Over
110 million years ago the Sahara Desert was filled with
wide rivers and the greenest trees and plants and dinosaurs
of all kinds for Sarcosuchus to eat. Yes! It ate
dinosaurs, with its six-foot-long skull and nearly 40-foot-long
body (as long as a city bus), SuperCroc lives up to its
nickname (and "toilet bowl nose" as Paul would say.)
Dr.
Paul walked onto the stage as his shadow reflected like
a big monster. He took his place at the podium. "Unlike
a lot of mammals, a croc's neck is not narrower than its
head," said Paul Sereno showing the neck vertebra to the
audience. "Sarcosuchus had a very strong neck
- but one that didn't do a lot of bending. Judging from
the fossil bones found the neck vertebra has a relatively
stout centrum (body) that is spool-shaped. From this evidence
we can tell that the neck was relatively stiff and projected
straight forward to the head."
People
were startled, even the 3rd graders who tried to keep up
with Paul's lecture, just were excited to sit in the 1st
row in front of a pre-historic animal. It was a joy to them,
and afterwards they would be taking a picture with SuperCroc
and Paul.
After the announcement reporters interviewed Paul, Delegates,
and Expedition team members. We all were excited. Cameras
flashing, people engaging conversations, 3rd graders everywhere!
It was quite an OK experience for the Delegates
Paul is even more motivated to find more; he wants to go
back with his shovel and pick to find more new species.
So until next time, we will keep our fingers crossed for
the next up discovery from Paul Sereno.
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