Reference no: EM133205925 , Length: Word count: 250 words
Assignment Task: For this discussion, you will be discussing a primary source, paleontology article. While it is recommended that you should focus on your species you have chosen for your term paper (I chose Dunkleosteus, if you would want to use it for this assignment), that is not required. Your primary source article should be about a fossil find or discussing a fossil find. I recommend that you look for a fossil find that was significant enough (such as a new species or a spectacularly preserved fossil or a controversy of some type) that it is also covered in the 'general' media (the general media is considered any secondary source). It can be very helpful to have secondary sources to help you understand the primary source
Please review what qualifies as primary vs. secondary sources (blogs, articles in popular media) as I attached below, if you have any questions about this.
Your post should address the following questions in order. Be sure to include citations where necessary. Please number your answers:
1. What is the title of the Primary Source article?
2. What is the taxonomic name (Links to an external site.) (family, genus, species) of the paleontological find?
3. This information should be found in the abstract as well as the 'Systematic paleontology' section.
4. What is the Etymology (the origin) of the name (if known)?
5. This is probably only relevant if it is a new species being named. It would be in the 'Systematic paleontology' section.
6. Where was the fossil found and who found it (if known)?
7. This should be in the Material and Methods section.
8. What is the name of the rock formation where the fossil was found? What type of rock was it and how old?
9. This information could be in the 'Introduction' or 'Occurrence and geological setting' section
10. How complete is the fossil find? What sections of the fossil are discussed in the paper?
11. This information is likely the bulk of the paper and should be found in the 'osteological (bone) description' section. Just provide a general overview of how complete the find is (a few scattered fossils or almost a complete skeleton) and what type of bones were found (head, leg etc.). Detailed descriptions are not necessary.
12. What makes this fossil find significant scientifically?