Eocene Fossils

On the following pages are images of Eocene-age (36-56 million years before present) fossil insect and plant specimens collected from the internationally-famous Green River Formation in Northwestern Colorado, USA. The specimens (over 120,000 individual specimens found on about 28,500 pieces of fossiliferous rock) have been donated by this worker to the Smithsonian Institution, Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C. It is the world's largest "unbiased" collection of this age/type material and contains representation of at least 22 insect orders.

In addition to the abundance and broad biodiversity, one factor that makes these specimens so special is the spectacular preservation. It is common to see details in these specimens that can be measured in microns (such as the ommatidial facet structure [eyeballs] and un-laid eggs found on many fossilized crane flies). Amber is the only material that provides better preservation. The matrix (rock) holding these specimens is so fine-grained that it is common to see such minute detail as body and wing seta (hairs), web spinnerets on spiders, as well as complete insect-wing and leaf venation patterns. It is interesting to note that this collection contains over 2000 spider specimens.

These pages are dedicated to the fond memory of the friendship, dedication and enthusiasm of the late Dr. Louis Pribyl, Washington, D.C. Special appreciation is given to: The Bureau of Land Management, Grand Junction and Glenwood Springs Resource Areas (Colorado); Conrad Labandeira, Smithsonian Institution; Dr. Alex Rasnitsyn, Arthropoda Laboratory, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; Greg McCallister, Colorado Mountain College; and to the many, many others who have made this experience the greatest adventure of a lifetime.

Please dont plagiarize--instead, contact me for permission to use images for legitimate purposes.

Qualified researchers interested in research opportunities in this collection are enthusiastically encouraged to contact Dr. Conrad Labandeira, Department of Paleobiology, at the USNM.

Images have been grouped into several broad categories- COLEOPTERA, WINGED THINGS, OTHER FUN THINGS, SPIDERS and FLORA. Identifications have been graciously provided by several of the worlds eminent paleoentomologists.  David Kohls, Retired Division Director, CMC Rifle Campus

COLEOPTERA	WINGED THINGS	OTHER FUN THINGS	SPIDERS	FLORA