2024 Cartano Creative Special Projects

STING RAYS

You have a piece of each in your package.

By: Fossil Fan in Florida (aka Kim Cartano)

DRUM FISH

From “Bone Valley” Parrish, Florida

ALLIGATOR From Dig the Past website: Alligators and Crocodiles are the ultimate survivors.

Their ancient ancestors were some of the largest animals to survive the great extinction which killed the dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous period.

Key to their survival is their generalized feeding habit, eating a broad range of smaller animals.

Alligators and Crocodiles lived in Florida throughout the Pleistocene Epoch, commonly known as the Ice-Age, between 10,000 and 1.8 million years ago.

Florida was relatively warm without sub-freezing temperatures throughout this time although global temperatures were noticeably colder.

Today Alligator and Crocodile teeth and other fossils are commonly found in all areas of Florida. Some fossil alligator teeth and bones must have come from much larger individuals than are found today. Scientists estimate that they may have reached lengths of 20 feet or more during the Pleistocene.

I see alligators in my backyard all the time. When your Mommy was in Florida, she held a baby alligator.

You have a fossil of one of these crazy teeth!

You have an alligator tooth in your fossil collection.

MANATEE From Earth Speak website: Manatee Rib Fossilized- Fla. CRFMR01 130mm x 40mm x 33mm Fossil ancestors of the Manatee, the Dugong have been found in Florida as far back as 45-50 Million Years ago.

Match Your Fossils Sting Ray Mouth Plate Drum Fish Tooth

The Manatees themselves evolved about 15 Million Years ago. The modern Manatee, Trichechus, has been in Florida the last 3 Million years, from the Pliocene to Recent.

Sting Ray Barb (partial)

Alligator Tooth

The fossil record tells us that there were many more species at one time and they were wider spread than today.

There is a very similar fossil of part of a rib in your collection.

(partial)

“Baby” Megalodon Tooth

Manatee Rib Bone (partial)

Manatees are sometimes called Sea Cows. They swim in the river by my house. Your fossils were found in “Manatee” County Florida.

SHARK

You have your very own “baby” Megalodon tooth in your collection!