Fossils in Big Bend National Park

Fossilized dinosaur bone

 

Big Bend preserves fossils from a longer span of time than any other national park unit.

A Treasure Trove of Fossils

Abundant fossils in Big Bend, including some found nowhere else in the world, record the existence and demise of dinosaurs and the flourishing of mammals, enabling us to ponder evolution and our impermanence in the world. The park preserves a largely intact 130 million year slice of geologic time, including the dinosaur extinction event.

There isn't a single region on the planet that has an all-inclusive fossil history of life on Earth. This is why places like Big Bend National Park, with deposits that preserve a long time frame, can contribute so much to our knowledge base. Big Bend National Park’s geologic history is not only complex and diverse, but also contains an amazing fossil record, especially of the late Cretaceous and early Tertiary periods. Big Bend's fossil record covers a much longer span of time than most National Park areas.

Some of Big Bend's fossil finds include bones of a giant pterosaur, the largest known flying creature of all time with a 36-foot wingspan, as well as the massive skull of the giant horned dinosaur Bravoceratops (only discovered in 2013, and only known from Big Bend). In addition to numerous dinosaurs, giant crocodiles, and other reptiles, the park has abundant fossilized wood, early mammals, and a wide variety of marine vertebrates and invertebrates. In fact, with over 1,200 known fossil species, Big Bend's fossil record is one of the most diverse in the National Park System.

 

 

Famous Fossils from Big Bend

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  A True Texas Giant

  Alamosaurus

  The last of the great sauropods, Alamosaurus dominated the inland floodplains of Cretaceous Big Bend.

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  Largest Flying Creature of All Time

  Quetzalcoatlus

  Big Bend was once home to the world's largest flying creature, a massive pterosaur with a wingspan of 39 feet.

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  Ate Dinosaurs for Breakfast!

  Deinosuchus

  The fossilized remains of gigantic crocodiles have been discovered in Big Bend.

 

What are Fossils?

Fossils (Latin for "dug up") are the remains or traces of animals and plants that lived in a past geological time.

Skeletons, shells, and leaves can become buried and preserved to form fossils. Animal tracks and burrows are "trace" fossils that are useful in deciphering ancient animal behavior. Fossils are usually found in layers of sedimentary rock such as limestone, sandstone, and shale. You can view ancient seashells embedded in the limetestone along the Santa Elena Canyon nature trail.

Protect the Ancients

The ancient fossil stories of Big Bend's past are among the park's most priceless treasures. If you discover a fossil, enjoy the experience of seeing the remains of ancient life. Do not dig, disturb, or collect any fossils from Big Bend National Park; instead make careful notes of their location and report them to a park ranger or visitor center. Remember, federal law protects all resources in Big Bend National Park. It is illegal to collect fossils or rocks. Please take only pictures.