Fossil Mammal Collection The Fossil Mammal Collection at The Field Museum is an important national and international systematic and paleontological resource, totaling more than 60,000 catalogued specimens. Since 1981 these collections have grown by 20,000 specimens (50%), almost all of which were added through the activities of Field Museum staff and associates, with contributions from other professionals and the public. In 1997-2000, this globally-important collection was completely recurated and housed in a new, state-of-the-art, 7,500 square foot, climate-controlled collections facility, with NSF support (DEB 9631431 and RMHSS supplement). Among the Vertebrate Paleontology subareas, The Field Museum Fossil Mammal Collection is among the largest, most active, and most significant in the United States (this collection is the largest of the Museum's Vertebrate Paleontology collections, together ranked fourth in size in the United States, with several collections of international importance). There are more than 300 references (more than fifty in the past ten years) in our partial tabulation of papers referring to specimens in the collection. This collection contains more than 60,000 catalogued specimen numbers (each catalogue number represents 1-10 or more individual specimens, as early collections often included more than one specimen under a single number), and more than 10,000 uncatalogued specimens (primarily in the Middle East and Australian Pleistocene collections). Since 1981 it has grown by over 50%, or about 3% per year. Systematic Coverage-Most major groups of Mammaliamorpha and Mammalia (especially Theria) are well represented. Particular strengths include Mesozoic mammals, marsupials, edentates, carnivorans, rodents, early primates, insectivores and most ungulate groups. Geographic Strengths-Central and South America, North America (especially Colorado, Illinois, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas andWyoming), Australia and the Middle East. Type Specimens-There are more than 75 holotypes and 50 paratypes in the Fossil Mammal Collection. Tertiary of North America-These collections are mainly from the Rocky Mountain states, where late Paleocene and early-late Eocene faunas from Colorado, Texas and Wyoming are noteworthy and are actively growing through J. Flynn's collecting efforts in the Bridger and Washakie Basins of southwest Wyoming. The collections of late Eocene-Miocene faunas of Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming are classic, and are being augmented by new collecting of Research Associate Michael Parrish and his students at Northern Illinois University and University of Chicago graduate students. Cretaceous of Texas-The Trinity Cretaceous collection built by B. Patterson remains The Field Museum's most important Mesozoic mammal assemblage, and has been augmented through later collecting by W. Turnbull, J. Flynn, Research Associate Cathy Forster, and Ray Rogers (Cornell College). University of Chicago graduate students R. Blob and M. Carrano are making significant microvertebrate collections from the late Cretaceous of Montana. Late Tertiary-Pleistocene of North America-This varied, but extensive, collection is quite good, with broad geographic and temporal coverage. It includes important Miocene and Pliocene collections from throughout the United States, an important late Miocene fauna from Honduras, a collection of La Brea Pleistocene mammals, and both regional and national Pleistocene collections. Tertiary and Pleistocene of South America-This is one of the most significant elements of The Field Museum Fossil Mammal Collection, and it is one of the finest and broadest collections of South American Fossil Mammals housed anywhere in the world. The great majority of the collection was made by Elmer Riggs during three field seasons in Argentina and Bolivia in the 1920's. It has been augmented subsequently by new material and cast exchanges, by Patterson, Turnbull, Larry Marshall, Kubet Luchterhand (Research Associate, working in Colombia) and Flynn. Flynn has received support from The National Science Foundation and other organizations for collection, preparation and research on exciting new faunas from South America. Latest Tertiary and Pleistocene of Australia-This extensive and important collection of material from Madura Cave (Western Australia), the Limeburner's Point and Hamilton faunas (Victoria), and the Pilbara and Danning Basins, was made during the 1950's-1970's by William Turnbull and Research Associate Ernest Lundelius. Turnbull and co-authors published a series of monographs (seven parts) on the Madura Cave fauna, and twelve papers on the other faunas. Quaternary of the Middle East-Several collections of material associated with archaeological sites in the Middle East (sites such as Palegawra Cave, Jarmo, and Warwasi; primarily in Iraq and Iran, but also Jordan and Turkey), form the core of a large and important element of the Fossil Mammal Collection. Most were collected by Robert J. Braidwood, Oriental Institute, University of Chicago. The earliest evidence of domestication of many mammals are documented in these collections. Additional Middle East material now housed in Anthropology and Zoology will be integrated into the Fossil Mammal collections facility in the future. Endocast Collection-Former Research Associate Len Radinsky's exceptional collection of recent and fossil brain endocasts was donated to The Field Museum after his death. More than 500 fossil endocasts are currently curated and inventoried on the computerized database. Madagascar Mesozoic-Pleistocene Collections-Flynn and other Field Museum staff have established a collaborative "Accord" with the University of Antananarivo, Madagascar. This international research and Malagasy student training program will yield significant material for The Field Museum Fossil Mammal Collection, as the "Accord" includes a specimen sharing agreement. S. Goodman currently is in Madagascar making and curating collections of Pleistocene-subrecent fossil mammals for Field Museum. David Krause (SUNY-Stony Brook) and colleagues have initiated a major collecting and research program in Madagascar, which has yielded the island's first Mesozoic mammal (with more mammal specimens found in 1995), as well as abundant reptile, amphibian and invertebrate fossils. This material will be housed at Field Museum. The combination of material from these two programs will make The Field Museum collection of Madagascar fossil mammals one of the most important in the world. Other Geology Department Collections: Paleontology | Fossil Amphibians and Reptiles |Fossil Fishes | Fossil Invertebrates |Fossil Mammals | Fossil Plants | Physical Geology