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Prehistoric Trackways National Monument
Map showing the location of Prehistoric Trackways National Monument
Map showing the location of Prehistoric Trackways National Monument
Map of the United States
LocationDoña Ana County, NM, USA
Nearest cityLas Cruces, New Mexico
Coordinates32°21′0″N 106°54′0″W / 32.35000°N 106.90000°W / 32.35000; -106.90000
Area5,280 acres (21.37 km2)
EstablishedMarch 30, 2009
Governing bodyBureau of Land Management

Prehistoric Trackways National Monument is located in the Robledo Mountains, in the southern region of the U.S. state of New Mexico. The monument's fossilized features are on 5,280 acres (21.37 km2; 8.25 sq mi) of Bureau of Land Management administered land in Doña Ana County. [1]

Fossils edit

The Prehistoric Trackways National Monument site includes a major deposit of Paleozoic Era fossilized footprints in fossil mega-trackways of land animals, sea creatures, and insects. These are known as trace fossils or ichnofossils. It also contains fossilized plants and petrified wood. Much of the fossilized material is around 280 million years old and originated during the Permian Period. [2]

Some of the animals who may have left tracks in the Robledo mountains include; Dimetrodon, Eryops, Edaphosaurus, and multiple other pelycosaurs. [3]These are educated guesses since there is no way to be sure if a certain animal made a track, this is why trace fossils are given their own fossil name. [4]

There are at least 13 major trace fossils found at the monument and include Selenichnites (sel-EEN-ick-NIGHT eez or moon-shaped trace, Kouphichnium (koof-ICK-nee-um) or light trace, Palmichnium (9pal-ICK-nee-um) or palm [frond] trace, Octopodichnus (oct-toe-pod-ICK-nuss) or eight-footed trace, Lithographus (lith-oh-GRAFF-us) or rock writing, Tonanoxichnus (tong-a-nox-ICK-nuss) or Tonganoxie [Kansas] trace, Augerinoichnus (aw-gurr-EE-no-ICK-nuss) or Augerino trace, Undichna (und-ICK-nuh) or wave-shaped trace, Serpentichnus (serpent-ICK-nuss) or snake-like trace, Batrachichnus (baa-track ICK-nuss) or frog trace, Dromopus (dro-MOE-puss) or running foot, and Dimetropus (die-MEET-row puss) or Dimetrodon foot. [5]

Trackways can be difficult for the general public to find at the monument and there is very little in the way of interpretation and probably will not be started till 2013. Many of the slabs pulled out by Jerry MacDonald are housed at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, although they are not on display at this time. The Las Cruces Museum of Natural History is building a new facility that will feature the trackways but is not due to open till 2012

 
possible Dimetrodon track


Discovery edit

The Monument's Paleozoic Era tracks were discovered on June 6th 1987 by Jerry Paul MacDonald. Scattered footprints had been found in the Robledo’s for almost fifty years prior to Jerry MacDonald starting his search. He used the recollections of local hikers, quarrymen, and fossil hunters to concentrate his search. This initial site is still one of the best track sites in the monument and has been termed the “Discovery Site”. Three large trackways were found here and all connected. The tracks are probably from a pelycosaur. The longest of the three was about 7 meters and was carried out in slabs about a mile on Jerry MacDonald’s back. It is now housed in the Smithsonian National Natural History Museum. The other two trackways can be found in the Carnegie Museum and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. [6]

 
BLM sign at the discovery site

Park Creation edit

Prehistoric Trackways National Monument was sponsored by Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Pete Domenici (R-NM) and was part of the National Landscape Conservation System of the United States of America under the Omnibus Public Land Management Act, signed into law on March 30, 2009. [7] This is first National Monument established under the Barack Obama administration, and the fourth established in 2009. At the time of its establishment, it was the 100th ''active'' National Monument in the United States. [8]

Recreation edit

The Bureau of Land Management is in the process of writing a resource management plan for the monument to be completed in 2012. In the meantime, there are no developed hiking and equestrian trails, and only one interpretive sign. Roads are not maintained and there are no facilities. There are OHV and mountain bike trails, which are rugged and require appropriate skills and equipment. [9]

Geology edit

The monument is within part of the Robledo Mountains and is made up of Cenozoic sediments and the Hueco Group which is early Permian strata. Most of the monument is Permian and would have been under water or along the coast of what was once the Hueco Seaway. [10]

Flora and Fauna edit

Some of the plants within the monument are ocotillo, mesquite, creosote bush, prickly-pear cactus, torrey yucca, barrel cactus, stool, agave and snake weed. A few of the animals that you may see are mule deer, rattlesnakes, desert cottontail, many species of lizards, and several species of birds.[11]

Climate edit

On average the coolest month in the monument is January with an average high of 57 degrees F, the hottest month is June with an average temperature of 94 degrees F, and the wettest month is August with about 2.52 inches of rain fall. [12]

See Also edit

References edit

  1. ^ BLM. (2011, May 31). Prehistoric Trackways National Monument. Retrieved August 4, 2011, from Bureau of Land Management: http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/las_cruces/trackways.html
  2. ^ BLM. (2011, May 31). Prehistoric Trackways National Monument. Retrieved August 4, 2011, from Bureau of Land Management: http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/las_cruces/trackways.html
  3. ^ Lockley, M. (1995). Dinosaur tracks: and other fossil footprints of the western United States. New York: Columbia University Press.
  4. ^ Trace fossils. (n.d.). Retrieved August 6, 2011, from Paleorama.com: http://www.paleorama.com/fossils/trace.html
  5. ^ Lucas, S. (2011). Traces of a Permian Seacoast. Albuquerque: New Mexico Museum of Natural History.
  6. ^ MacDonald, J. (1994). Earths First Steps. Boulder Co.: Johnson Printing.
  7. ^ United States Congress. (2009, October 3). Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009/Title II. Retrieved August 5, 2011, from Wikisource: http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Omnibus_Public_Land_Management_Act_of_2009/Title_II
  8. ^ List of National Monuments of the United States. (2011, August 2). Retrieved August 5, 2011, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_National_Monuments_of_the_United_States
  9. ^ BLM. (2011, May 31). Prehistoric Trackways National Monument. Retrieved August 4, 2011, from Bureau of Land Management: http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/las_cruces/trackways.html
  10. ^ Lucas, S. (2011). Traces of a Permian Seacoast. Albuquerque: New Mexico Museum of Natural History.
  11. ^ Chihuahuan Desert Field Guide . (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2011, from Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition: http://www.chihuahuandesert.org/fieldguide2.htm
  12. ^ Overview for Robledo Mountains. (n.d.). Retrieved August 6, 2011, from The Weather Channel: http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/overview/US0875

External links edit

Category:Bureau of Land Management areas in New Mexico Category:Protected areas of Doña Ana County, New Mexico Category:Fossil trackways in the United States Category:National Conservation Areas of the United States Category:National Monuments in New Mexico Category:Paleozoic life Category:Protected areas established in 2009

 

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