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Steven Spielberg's 1993 film Jurassic Park popularized the Velociraptor dinosaur. According to the film and its sequels, this animal was a vicious, human-sized creature. It possessed a leathery hide and heightened intelligence. It may attack prey in groups. It would then disembowel it with one sickle-shaped talon strike to each foot. Hollywood typically portrays the Velociraptor in this way. The real Velociraptor differed significantly from the movie version. Paleontologists believe Velociraptors share more similarities with birds than reptiles, which may be the most significant difference. It is believed to have been completely covered in feathers! At first glance, a Velociraptor...

When it comes to the most common fossils available in the market for collectors to buy, the basic process of its fossilization involves mineral replacement as remains, such as bones, are buried in the ground. Buried bones absorb minerals from groundwater, filling in microscopic gaps. The organic, or original, material in the bone degrades over time, while minerals fill in the empty spaces where the organic material once existed. Finally, the bone contains little, if any, organic material and is primarily composed of hardened minerals. As a result, the bone's weight increases dramatically, and its color changes to match the...

Who said you needed fancy tools or far-flung sites to go fossil hunting? Some of the most fascinating fossils are just waiting to be spotted in rock formations while you’re outdoors hiking and enjoying nature. For amateur collectors, keeping an eye out for these common rock fossils adds an exciting new dimension to any trail. In this blog, we discuss some easily identifiable fossils to look for on your next hike that will leave your inner paleontologist thrilled. Petrified Wood Petrified wood is created when plant debris gets buried, and minerals slowly replace the organic matter, transforming it into stone...

North America’s fossil-rich landscapes reveal over 3 billion years of prehistory, from marine invertebrates to Ice Age megafauna. This blog explores the most common fossils found across the continent, including ammonoids, trilobites, crinoids, brachiopods, petrified wood, and iconic Ice Age mammals like mammoths and saber-toothed cats. Dive into the ancient seas, riverbeds, and tar pits that preserve the story of life on this continent.

One mystery that continues to intrigue paleontologists is – what did dinosaurs look like... and were they covered in? feathers or scales? Recent fossil evidence has dramatically changed theories on dinosaur skin coverings and appearances. In this blog, we analyze integument differences across different kinds of dinosaurs. The Feathered Dinosaurs of China The discovery of feathered dinosaurs in China during the 1990s upended traditional perceptions of dinosaurs being giant scaly reptiles. Spectacular fossils like Sinosauropteryx revealed an early cousin of Velociraptor covered in primitive feathers called protofeathers. Since then, over 50 dinosaur species sporting plumage have been found across China...