Professor Matthew McLain and his geology students have made a groundbreaking discovery at Vasquez Rocks, which they believe is the first-ever fossil footprints found in the area. The prints are believed to belong to a small carnivore that lived in the area millions of years ago. According to McLain, the fossils could be from extinct dog-like creatures known as Hesperocyoninae.
The discovery was made last fall when McLain took his “essentials of geology” class on an outing to Vasquez Rocks Natural Area and Nature Center. The students came across a footprint that had been exposed by recent weather conditions. McLain and his team measured, photographed, and videoed the print, which has since become a research project.
The fossil footprint was presented at the Geological Society of America Conference in Anaheim last September. Researchers are now working to identify the exact age and species of the ancient animal that created the prints. The discovery is significant as it provides valuable insights into the ancient ecosystem and can help scientists understand what life was like in California during the Oligocene to Miocene era.
McLain believes that the footprint may have gone unnoticed by previous visitors due to erosion caused by recent weather conditions. He notes that the rock layer where the print was found had a thin layer of mudstone, which could have been eroded away, revealing the fossil. McLain hopes that this discovery will inspire other researchers to investigate Vasquez Rocks and continue the scientific study of ancient life.
The discovery has sparked excitement among students, who are now planning to publish a research article about the footprint and compare it with similar tracks at the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology in Claremont.
Source: https://signalscv.com/2024/11/geology-class-uncovers-fossil-footprints-at-vasquez-rocks