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  3. Fossil Type Specimens in the Condon Fossil Collection

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Fossil type specimens

Fossil Type Specimens in the Condon Fossil Collection

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The Condon Fossil Collection contains numerous "type specimens," a highly significant category in the field of paleontology. Fossil type specimens are the best examples of a new species at the time it is named.

When scientists describe a new species, they designate a single specimen as the "holotype" that best represents the new species. Technically, new scientific names such as Tyrannosaurus rex are attached to this specimen rather than the species. Because scientific names are often published before a full analysis of variation within a fossil species has taken place, a holotype can later be found to be atypical of the species.

At the time of first publication, a scientist may also designate "paratype" specimens she or he thinks belong to the same species and illustrate the range of variation known within the new species. Further research may reveal better preserved specimens that provide additional details to our knowledge of an ancient species, but type specimens remain significant for their historical value, the first of their kind, and as crucial resources for subsequent comparative analysis.

The type specimens in this gallery have been organized by their evolutionary relationships, progressing up the tree of life from invertebrates (clams, snails, etc.) to vertebrates--from fish to amphibians, then birds and several families of mammals. Images © UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Production of this gallery was generously supported by The Ford Family Foundation.

Image Gallery
Image
Ammonite partial shell

Ammonite partial shell, Diplomaceras mitchellense, Found at Mitchell, Wheeler County, Oregon, Cretaceous Period - Specimen #F-919  

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Ammonite partial shell, Diplomaceras mitchellense, Found at Mitchell, Wheeler County, Oregon, Cretaceous Period - Specimen #F-919
 

Image
Rabbit mandible, side one

Rabbit mandible, side one, Hypolagus oregonensis, From McKay Reservoir, Umatilla County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #2063

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Rabbit mandible, side one, Hypolagus oregonensis, From McKay Reservoir, Umatilla County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #2063

Image
Rabbit mandible, side two

Rabbit mandible, side two, Hypolagus oregonensis, From McKay Reservoir, Umatilla County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #2063

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Rabbit mandible, side two, Hypolagus oregonensis, From McKay Reservoir, Umatilla County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #2063

Image
Fossil wildcat mandible, side one

Fossil wildcat mandible, side one, Lynx longignathus, From McKay Reservoir, Umatilla County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-2628

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil wildcat mandible, side one, Lynx longignathus, From McKay Reservoir, Umatilla County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-2628

Image
Fossil wildcat mandible, side two

Fossil wildcat mandible, side two, Lynx longignathus, From McKay Reservoir, Umatilla County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-2628

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil wildcat mandible, side two, Lynx longignathus, From McKay Reservoir, Umatilla County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-2628

Image
Fossil dog mandible, side one

Fossil dog mandible, side one, Eucyon davisi, From McKay Reservoir, Umatilla County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-3241

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil dog mandible, side one, Eucyon davisi, From McKay Reservoir, Umatilla County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-3241

Image
Fossil dog mandible, side two

Fossil dog mandible, side two, Eucyon davisi, From McKay Reservoir, Umatilla County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-3241

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil dog mandible, side two, Eucyon davisi, From McKay Reservoir, Umatilla County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-3241

Image
Squirrel skull, bottom view

Squirrel skull, bottom view, Protosciurus condoni, From the John Day Formation, Eastern Oregon, Oligocene Epoch - Specimen #F-5171

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Squirrel skull, bottom view, Protosciurus condoni, From the John Day Formation, Eastern Oregon, Oligocene Epoch - Specimen #F-5171

Image
Squirrel skull, top view

Squirrel skull, top view, Protosciurus condoni, From the John Day Formation, Eastern Oregon, Oligocene Epoch - Specimen #F-5171

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Squirrel skull, top view, Protosciurus condoni, From the John Day Formation, Eastern Oregon, Oligocene Epoch - Specimen #F-5171

Image
Fossil newt skeleton, side one

Fossil newt skeleton, side one, Paleotaricha oligocenica, From Goshen, Lane County, Oregon, Oligocene Epoch - Specimen #F-5405

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil newt skeleton, side one, Paleotaricha oligocenica, From Goshen, Lane County, Oregon, Oligocene Epoch - Specimen #F-5405

Image
Fossil newt skeleton, side two

Fossil newt skeleton, side two, Paleotaricha oligocenica, From Goshen, Lane County, Oregon, Oligocene Epoch - Specimen #F-5405

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil newt skeleton, side two, Paleotaricha oligocenica, From Goshen, Lane County, Oregon, Oligocene Epoch - Specimen #F-5405

Image
Fossil duck humerus

Fossil duck humerus, Eremochen russelli, From Juntura, Malheur County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-5414/F-5424

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil duck humerus, Eremochen russelli, From Juntura, Malheur County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-5414/F-5424

Image
Fossil weasel mandible

Fossil weasel mandible, Sthenictis juncturensis, From Poison Basin, Malheur County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-6694

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil weasel mandible, Sthenictis juncturensis, From Poison Basin, Malheur County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-6694

Image
Fossil otter mandible

Fossil otter mandible, Lutra ingens, From Jackass Butte, Owyhee County, Idaho, Pliocene Epoch - Specimen #F-11837

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil otter mandible, Lutra ingens, From Jackass Butte, Owyhee County, Idaho, Pliocene Epoch - Specimen #F-11837

Image
Fossil wildcat mandible

Fossil wildcat mandible, Puma lacustris, From Jackass Butte, Owyhee County, Idaho, Pliocene Epoch - Specimen #F-11840

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil wildcat mandible, Puma lacustris, From Jackass Butte, Owyhee County, Idaho, Pliocene Epoch - Specimen #F-11840

Image
Beaver mandible

Beaver mandible, Castor accessor, From Jackass Butte, Owyhee County, Idaho, Pliocene Epoch - Specimen #F-16337

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Beaver mandible, Castor accessor, From Jackass Butte, Owyhee County, Idaho, Pliocene Epoch - Specimen #F-16337

Image
Fossil grison mandible

Fossil grison mandible, Trigonictis idahoensis, From Jackass Butte, Owyhee County, Idaho, Pliocene Epoch - Specimen #F-16351

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil grison mandible, Trigonictis idahoensis, From Jackass Butte, Owyhee County, Idaho, Pliocene Epoch - Specimen #F-16351

Image
Fossil beaver mandible
Caption
Fossil beaver mandible, side one, Monosaulax typicus, From Red Basin, Malheur County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-21677
Image
Fossil beaver mandible

Fossil beaver mandible, side two, Monosaulax typicus, From Red Basin, Malheur County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-2167

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil beaver mandible, side two, Monosaulax typicus, From Red Basin, Malheur County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-2167

Image
Fossil badger mandible

Fossil badger mandible, Pliotaxidea nevadensis, From McKay Reservoir, Umatilla County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-21874

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil badger mandible, Pliotaxidea nevadensis, From McKay Reservoir, Umatilla County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-21874

Image
Fossil bone-crushing dog skull

Fossil bone-crushing dog skull, bottom view, Tephrocyon rurestris, From Cottonwood Creek, Grant County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-23077

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil bone-crushing dog skull, bottom view, Tephrocyon rurestris, From Cottonwood Creek, Grant County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-23077

Image
Fossil bone-crushing dog skull, side view

Fossil bone-crushing dog skull, side view, Tephrocyon rurestris, From Cottonwood Creek, Grant County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-23077

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil bone-crushing dog skull, side view, Tephrocyon rurestris, From Cottonwood Creek, Grant County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-23077

Image
Fossil bone-crushing dog skull, top view

Fossil bone-crushing dog skull, top view, Tephrocyon rurestris, From Cottonwood Creek, Grant County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-23077

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil bone-crushing dog skull, top view, Tephrocyon rurestris, From Cottonwood Creek, Grant County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-23077

Image
Fossil beaver mandible

Fossil beaver mandible, Dipoides vallicula, From Little Valley, Malheur County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-26695

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil beaver mandible, Dipoides vallicula, From Little Valley, Malheur County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-26695

Image
Fossil martin mandible, side one

Fossil martin mandible, side one, Plionictis oregonensis, From Little Valley, Malheur County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-26744

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil martin mandible, side one, Plionictis oregonensis, From Little Valley, Malheur County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-26744

Image
Fossil martin mandible, side two

Fossil martin mandible, side two, Plionictis oregonensis, From Little Valley, Malheur County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-26744

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil martin mandible, side two, Plionictis oregonensis, From Little Valley, Malheur County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-26744

Image
Fossil oyster upper valve

Fossil oyster upper valve, Plicatostylus gregarius, From Beaver Creek, Grant County, Oregon, Jurassic Period - Specimen #F-26853

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil oyster upper valve, Plicatostylus gregarius, From Beaver Creek, Grant County, Oregon, Jurassic Period - Specimen #F-26853

Image
Fossil cockle shell

Fossil cockle shell, Nemocardium formosum, From Eugene, Oregon, Oligocene Epoch - Specimen #F-27195

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil cockle shell, Nemocardium formosum, From Eugene, Oregon, Oligocene Epoch - Specimen #F-27195

Image
Fossil tusk shell

Fossil tusk shell, Dentalium laneensis, From Eugene, Oregon, Oligocene Epoch - Specimen #F-27332

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil tusk shell, Dentalium laneensis, From Eugene, Oregon, Oligocene Epoch - Specimen #F-27332

Image
Fossil moon snail shell

Fossil moon snail shell, Neverita thomsonae, From Columbia County, Oregon, Oligocene Epoch - Specimen #F-27366

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil moon snail shell, Neverita thomsonae, From Columbia County, Oregon, Oligocene Epoch - Specimen #F-27366

Image
Fossil perch partial skeleton

Fossil perch partial skeleton, Archoplites harneyensis, From Trout Creek, Harney County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-27827

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil perch partial skeleton, Archoplites harneyensis, From Trout Creek, Harney County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-27827

Image
Fossil beaver mandible

Fossil beaver mandible, Monosaulax progressus, From the Quartz Basin, Malheur, County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-31713

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Fossil beaver mandible, Monosaulax progressus, From the Quartz Basin, Malheur, County, Oregon, Miocene Epoch - Specimen #F-31713

Image
Giant hyena-like animal mandible

Giant hyena-like animal mandible, Hemipsalodon grandis, From Clarno Mammal Quarry, Wheeler County, Oregon, Eocene Epoch - Specimen #F-35328

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Giant hyena-like animal mandible, Hemipsalodon grandis, From Clarno Mammal Quarry, Wheeler County, Oregon, Eocene Epoch - Specimen #F-35328

Image
Giant hyena-like animal skull

Giant hyena-like animal skull, Hemipsalodon grandis, From Clarno Mammal Quarry, Wheeler County, Oregon, Eocene Epoch - Specimen #F-35328

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Giant hyena-like animal skull, Hemipsalodon grandis, From Clarno Mammal Quarry, Wheeler County, Oregon, Eocene Epoch - Specimen #F-35328

Image
Giant terror-bird humerus

Giant terror-bird humerus, Teratorn woodburnensi, From Woodburn, Marion County, Oregon, Pleistocene Epoch - Specimen #F-36468

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Giant terror-bird humerus, Teratorn woodburnensi, From Woodburn, Marion County, Oregon, Pleistocene Epoch - Specimen #F-36468

Collections Galleries

Bird, snake, lizards, and fish, Yirrkalla, Arnhem Land 30.5" x 17.75", Cat. No. 6-36
Aboriginal Australian Bark Paintings
Goniatite detail, Muensteroceras oweni, Rockford, Indiana, Rockford Formation, Mississippian (Kinderhookian) - Specimen #P6372A
Ammonite Fossils
Cebus sp. Capuchin
University of Oregon Comparative Primate Collection
7-38
Tapa Cloth
Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus - 37.54 x 27.98 mm
Birds' Eggs
Bighorn sheep, anterior view of different specimen
Vertebrate Skulls
See all collections galleries

Collections Access

The Museum encourages the use of its collections for research, educational, and artistic purposes, through loans, exhibits, tours, class visits, and hosting visiting researchers.

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