This student activity demonstrates how foraminifera can be used to infer ancient environments. It contains background information and the classroom activity, which includes instructions and the required charts and diagrams. Also included are references and active links for further study as well as suggestions for a follow-up activity. Full description.

Containing a highly interactive computer activity for students, this module examines evidence from the fossil record, behavior, biomechanics and cladistic analysis to interpret the sequence of events that led to flight in the dinosaur lineage. The module concentrates on the process of science - how we know what we know. It also contains background information, lesson plans, handouts, and assessments. ... Full description.

This site is a general introduction to pterosaurs. Ranging from the size of a sparrow to the size of an airplane, the pterosaurs (Greek for "wing lizards") ruled the skies in the Jurassic and Cretaceous, and included the largest vertebrate ever known to fly: the late Cretaceous Quetzalcoatlus. The site has photographs, illustrations, and numerous active links that lead to detailed information on the ... Full description.

This site describes the skeleton of Tyrannosaurus rex at the University of California Museum of Paleontology and includes active links for more information. The first, Meet T. rex gives general information about the animal. The second link, Building T. rex, includes pictures of the actual construction of the skeleton. The third link contains children's art depicting various dinosaurs. The final link ... Full description.

This guided tour of the dinosaur known as Dilophosaurus is narrated by the discoverer of Dilophosaurus, Sam Welles, formerly a professor at the University of California Museum of Paleontology (UCMP). Links lead to Dr. Wells' description of the discovery, as well as the morphology and habits of the creature. He also compares and contrasts the real animal with the one shown in the movie Jurassic Park. ... Full description.

This site introduces a group of dinosaurs called ornithischians. There were many kinds of ornithischian dinosaurs dating back to the early Jurassic. The Ornithopoda included the hadrosaurs (duck-billed dinosaurs), the iguanodontids, the heterodontosaurs, the hypsilophodontids, and various others. The Ceratopsia included the horned dinosaurs, while the Ankylosauria and Stegosauria (now usually grouped ... Full description.

This historical background information discusses the myths associated with dinosaurs. The site contains links to sections entitled the Fossil Record, Life History and Ecology, Systematics, and More on Morphology. Additional links lead to special exhibits and detailed information about dinosaurs as well as sources for further reading. Full description.

This slide show and accompanying narrative about radiation and diversity in Precambrian and early Paleozoic organisms depicts several different fossil types, including medusoid-like, frond-like, trace fossils and other unusual types. The presenter via the photographs takes us to several collecting sites, some of which are rather remote. The presenter cannot explain radiation although some theories ... Full description.

Users of this activity view a photograph of a fossil, read a brief description and are invited to guess its name. The name is revealed with another click and further information about the fossil is furnished. A new mystery fossil is added to the site each month. Full description.

The University of California Museum of Paleontology (UCMP) has the largest paleontological collection of any university museum in the world. These collections include fossil and modern organisms representing prokaryotes to vertebrates collected from all continents, which are used by paleontologists, biologists and geologists throughout the world. There are collection descriptions and images for microfossil, ... Full description.