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Center presents ‘Dinosaur Hunters’ part II (April 10, 2008) – The Center on Sioux City’s Missouri Riverfront will host a program about ancient mammals of Siouxland at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 20. The free event will be presented by Darren Maurer, Patrick Saulsbury, Steve Saulsbury and Brian Buckmeier, popularly known as Siouxland’s “Dinosaur Hunters.” The presenters will trace the development of mammals in this area from the time of the dinosaurs to recent history. They will focus on mammals of the Oligocene Period (30 million years ago) including ancient rhinos, oreodonts, camels and saber cats that were found in what is now South Dakota.
They also will discuss: 12 million-year-old mammal fossils discovered at the Ashfall Fossil Beds National Landmark, Royal, Neb.; mammal fossils of Iowa and Nebraska of some 10,000 to 100,000 years ago; and ancient mammoths, mastodons and rhinos. Bones and teeth will be displayed, along with skulls of: a saber-toothed tiger (smilodon); dire wolf; oreodont; sloth; rhino; and an ancient hippo. The Dinosaur Hunters search for fossils, dinosaur bones and mammal fossils in the area and throughout South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and Florida. Their passion led to the 2003 discovery of a Dracorex skull in the Hell Creek formation in northwest South Dakota. The creature lived 67 to 65 million years ago. Author J.K. Rowling, of “Harry Potter” fame, inspired the naming of the dinosaur Dracorex hogwartsia, which translates as “Dragon King of Hogwarts.” Consulting paleontologists determined that the skull was that of a new genus or subfamily of Pachycephalosaurus. It now is on exhibition at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Dracorex hogwartsia was photographed for National Geographic’s December 2007 cover story, “Extreme Dinosaurs.” The picture shows a skull “bristling with spikes and pointed knobs.” The Betty Strong Encounter Center is a private, non-profit cultural institution located on the Missouri Riverfront, exit 149 off I-29. Admission, all programs, exhibits and activities are free and open to all people. For more information, visit www.siouxcitylcic.com.
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