Guest Night 2007: “Amazing Fossils from the
Permian of Texas- New Insights and Ideas on
Reptiles and Dinosaurs”
Solving a 287 MMY Crime Scene
By Bonnie Milne-Andrews
The Houston Geological Society Guest Night on June 16, 2007 was the scene of an entertaining and though-provoking talk by Dr. Robert Bakker, the newly appointed Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology of the Houston Musuem of Natural Science. To an overflow audience in the IMAX Theater, Dr. Bakker delivered a comical, yet compelling story of the fascinating fossil reptile and dinosaurs that populate the fossil record of the redbeds of the Texas Permian.
Bedecked in a large cowboy hat, calling upon the likes of Kinky Friedman and songster Bob Dylan, the energetic New Jersey born Dr. Bakker squelched any impression of the bland and introverted scientist. His entertaining, and at times, stream-of conscious style is an outgrowth of his unbridled enthusiasm as related to the study of dinosaurs. Dr. Bakker, educated at Yale and Harvard Universities,began his career teaching at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Bakker has conducted field studies around the world and has spent over 30 years excavating Wyoming’s Como Bluff site.
Dr. Bakker focused his HGS Guest Night talk on research conducted in a field school for Texas teachers and volunteers at the Craddock Ranch setting in Seymour, Texas. He is best known for the theory that some dinosaurs were truly warm-blooded high-metabolism, and high-energy creatures. Through his studies he has pursued the subject of dinosaur habitats and as a technical advisor for the film, Jurassic Park and 1992 PBS Series, “The Dinosaurs”. Dr. Bakker is the author of numerous books including, The Dinosaur Heresies. for dinosaur documentaries. In addition to being a scientist, Bakker is also a Pentecostal preacher who is a strong proponent of theistic evolution.
Dr. Bakker began his talk with “Dinosaurs….that did it for me”, as he recounted his visit as a boy to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City to view the fossil remains of dinosaurs. Dr. Bakker discussed interesting finds in his field program held in Seymour, Texas which he described as a “rock-based paleonotology” where we “dig fossils with a CSI approach”. Focusing on how the “animal” died he emphasized the secrets lie in the fact that “the rocks talk”.
Displaying his large drawings of reconstructed reptiles and dinosaurs of the Permian of Texas, Dr Bakker discussed the fascinating life habits of Dimetrodon and the development of and purpose for “fins” in the Permian. The anatomy of various Permian reptiles such as Zachytrachys was displayed with a larger-than-life and very “visual” explanation of it’sability to snare it’s prey through the employ of a mucuous slime net.
Through the exacavation of the Permian of floodplain and overbank deposits at the Craddock Ranch site, Dr. Bakker and his volunteers have identified 20,000 to 30,000 Dimetrodon skeletal remains. Citing the fact that Texas has produced more Permian finback remains than anywhere else on earth, he comically suggested that the Seymour High School should rename their football team to the “Fighting Finbacks”.
Likening the study of ballistics in solving crime cases, Dr. Bakker related the development of his theory of the diet of the Dimetrodon. A top predator, the association of Dimetrodon teeth with herbivores is scant. Dr. Bakker has developed a compelling story based upon the relationship of Dimetrodon teeth found in association with the ancient shark species, Xenocanth as well as the smoking gun of mineralized shark cartilage in Dimetrodon coprolites.
Through the careful reconstruction of the events represented by the fossil finds and their critical associations, Dr. Bakker pronounced, “The Perp… The Vic… a 287 million year old murder mystery has been solved”.
Four hundred guests enjoyed a delicious dinner and drinks and were able to wander the museum to view the fossils, minerals and oil and gas exhibits on the first and second floor. Additionally, members of the Houston Geological Society showed dinosaur casts, fossils and teaching exhibits related to the ongoing North Texas dinosaur fossil digs.
During the Guest Night program in the IMAX theater, outgoing HGS President Steve Brachman awarded plaques to students who won prizes for their exhibits at the 2007 Houston Science and Engineering Fair. These students and their parents were thrilled to be invited to Guest Night and participate in the program.
Following Dr. Bakker’s fascinating lecture, the Guest Night program included a sneak preview of the 3-D IMAX movie, Dinosaurs Alive.
The Guest Night committee continues to improve its program every year, making it one of the HGS top sell-out programs each June. Key corporate sponsors such as BHP Billiton, TGS-NOPEC, Schlumberger, Subsurface Consultants and Associates (SCA) and BP have made the program possible with their highly appreciated financial support.
Special thanks go to the hard-working Guest Night committee of Bill Osten, who without his expert lead the success of the evening would not have been possible.
The Guest Night program was recorded digitally. HGS members can click here to download the file as a Windows media streaming video file.