Fossil Collection Database: Help - VPL - Texas Natural Science Center

Vertebrate Paleontology Laboratory
Collection Database: Help

About the Online VPL Collection Database

The functions to search and browse our collection database are constrained by the current format of our database. We are continually working to improve our database, while making as much information available as we can.

If you have further questions, please see the contacts section.

Specimen Search Help

This page has both simple and advanced search functions.
The advanced search is a little slower because it is very complex.
Notice that you can show or hide the advanced search options.

After you have chosen your search criteria (see below), click the "Search" button or simply press the "Enter" key on your keyboard. If you wish to clear the search criteria and start a new search, click the "Reset" button.

In many lists of search criteria, you will see a number in parentheses, such as (119).
This number indicates how many records in the database match that criteria.
For example, Three Fingers Cave (119) indicates that 119 specimens in our collection are recorded from this localilty.

Notice that the top of the page shows the number of specimens and localities that are recorded in our database.

**You can search the following types of data:**
Data type	Examples or Options	Search Hints
Taxon	Tyrannosaurus rex Tyrannosaurus Tyrannosauridae Tyranno Coelurosauria Saurischia Dinosauria Archosauria Tetrapoda ? (indicates uncertain identification)	Try to search for any and all taxa that might describe the specimen(s) you are looking for. Try species, genus, family, and order. You can also use part of a name. So, if you enter Tyranno, you will find any taxon names beginning with those letters. Please keep in mind that this database only indicates the most-specific taxon that was recorded for each specimen. So, a specimen may have been identified as Tyrannosaurus rex (a species within the genus Tyrannosaurus), but if the species was not known, the specimen may have been identified as belonging to a higher-level taxon, such as Tyrannosaurus (genus), Tyrannosauridae (family), Saurischia (order) or Tetrapoda (superclass). Also note that some identifications are uncertain, as indicated by a question mark (?). Searching on the Internet for taxonomy information may help you further.
Locality	Titanothere Hill (58) Three Fingers Cave (119)	Using the down-arrow-button to see an alphabetical list of all the names of localities (fossil find sites) that have been recorded in this database. Scroll through the list (using the slider bar, arrow keys, or mouse wheel) and click on the locality of your choice. If you have a locality name in mind, type the first letter of the name to jump to that part of the alphabetical list. If you wish to look over the list of localities more easily, try the "Browse Localities" link instead. The number in parentheses indicates how many records in the database match that criteria. For example, Three Fingers Cave (119) indicates that 119 of the specimens within the VPL collection are recorded from this locality.
Geographic Criteria	County/Parish: Bexar or Albany State/Province: Texas or Alberta Country/Continent: USA or Canada Others: Isle of Wight	Choose any and all geographic units that might encompass the specimen(s) or localities that you are looking for. The units may be counties, parishes, states, provinces, countries, continents, or other odd categories. Please keep in mind that the database only indicates the most-specific geographic unit that was recorded for each specimen's locality of origin. So, a record would ideally have the county or parish listed, but if the county or parish was not recorded, the location may be known only to the level of state or country. The database does not always indicate the state to which a county belongs, and rarely indicates the country to which a state or providence belongs, etc.
Geologic Criteria	Era: Cenozoic Period: Cretaceous, Lower Epoch: Campanian or Pleistocene Age: Blancan or Rancholabrean	Choose any and all geologic units that might encompass the specimen(s) you are looking for. Please keep in mind that the database only indicates the most-specific geologic unit that was recorded for each specimen. So, a record would ideally have the geologic age identified, but if the geologic age was not known, the geologic unit may have been identified to the level of epoch, period, or era. Some records have no geologic unit identified.
Stratigraphic Criteria	Formation: Navarro, Aguja Group: Wasatch Horizon: Pre-Tecovas Member: Goat Mountain	Choose any and all stratigraphic units that might encompass the specimen(s) you are looking for. Please keep in mind that the database only indicates the most-specific stratigraphic unit that was recorded for each specimen. So, a record would ideally have the stratigraphic member identified, but if the stratigraphic member was not known, the stratigraphic unit may have been identified to the level of horizon, group, or formation. Some records have no stratigraphic unit identified.
Specimen Number	TMM-43646-1 TMM-43646 43646	Enter any published or established specimen number or part of a number. Specimen numbers are made up of three parts: (1) the collection code (such as TMM); (2) the locality code number (such as 43646); and (3) a number for each individual specimen from each location (such as 1, 2, 3, etc.). If you enter just the collection code or locality code, you will find all specimens that match those codes.
Locality Number	43646	Enter any published or established locality number. Note that the same locality code number may be used within multiple collections.

**Options you can choose for your search results include:**
Option(s)		Hints
Sorted by	taxon or locality	If you choose one of these options, your search results will be sorted occording to the alphabetical order of the names (of either the taxon or the locality) listed for each specimen.
Show only specimens with media?	yes or no	If you choose this option, your search results will be include only those specimens that have associated media, such as photos (.JPG), Quicktime movies (.MOV), or 3D surface models (.STL). This is the newest part of this database and new media items are being added. For more information about and samples of 3-D images, you might want to also visit UT's DigiMorph site.

Additional Tips:

If you are attempting multiple searches or are using your broswers "back" command, note that the search fields may still contain search items from a previous search. If you are getting confusing results, check that you have cleared the fields by using the "Reset" button.

Note that the advanced search page will load slowly every time you re-load it. To speed things up, if you don't need the advanced search, select the link to "hide" the advanced search.

Search Results Help

Notice that the top of the page shows the number of results returned by your search. If this number is larger than 10, you will have several options to display and work with your results.

By default, your results will display ten specimen records per page in your browser. At the top of the page, you can choose options (using the down-arrow-button) to display additional pages, to display more records per page, or to display all records at once.

**The following types of data will be displayed:**
Data type	Examples	Explanation
Specimen number	TMM-43646-1 TAMU-3-2141	A three-part number that universally identifies paleontological specimens. The three parts are: (1) the collection code (such as TMM); (2) the locality code number (such as 43646); and (3) a number for each individual specimen from each location (such as 1, 2, 3, etc.). Click on this number to view more details about this specimen.
Taxon	Tyrannosaurus rex (species) Mammuthus (genus) Saurischia (order) Tetrapoda (superclass) ?Pliohippus (genus)	A scientific name that indicates the most-specific-ranking taxon that was recorded for each specimen. A specimen would ideally have been identified to the level of species, but if the species was not known, the specimen may have been identified as belonging to a higher-level taxon, such as genus, family, order, etc. Note that some identifications were tentative or uncertain, as indicated by a question mark (?).
Locality (number and name)	40090 - Onion Creek 31247 - Lucas Ranch 10 - Waco	The code number and paleontologists' common name of a site where a specimen was originally found. This code number is unique only within a particular collection.
Geographic Location	Texas, Travis (county) Texas (state) Spain (country)	The county, parish, state, province, country, or continent where the locality (original fossil site) was located. There are other categories which appear in a few cases. The database indicates the most-specific geographic unit that was recorded for each specimen. So, a record would ideally have the county or parish listed, but if the county or parish was not recorded, the location may be known only to the level of state or country. The database does not always indicate the state to which a county belongs, and rarely indicates the country to which a state or providence belongs, etc.
Geologic Unit	Cenozoic (era) Cretaceous, Lower (period) Pleistocene (epoch) Rancholabrean (age)	The geologic era, period, epoch, or age to which the specimen was thought to belong. The database indicates the most-specific geologic unit that was recorded for each specimen. So, a record would ideally have the geologic age identified, but if the geologic age was not known, the geologic unit may have been identified to the level of epoch, period, or era. Some records have no geologic unit identified. The database rarely indicates the higher-ranking units to which a given geologic unit belongs.
Stratigraphic Unit	Navarro (formation) Aguja (formation) Wasatch (group) Pre-Tecovas (horizon) Chisos, Goat Mountain (member)	The stratigraphic formation, horizon, group, or member to which the specimen was thought to belong. The database indicates the most-specific stratigraphic unit that was recorded for each specimen. So, a record would ideally have the stratigraphic member identified, but if the stratigraphic member was not known, the stratigraphic unit may have been identified to the level of horizon, group, or formation. Some records have no stratigraphic unit identified. The database rarely indicates the higher-ranking units to which a given stratigraphic unit belongs.
Media Items	.JPG .MOV .STL	This number indicates how many media items are associated with this specimen. Media items may be photos (.JPG), Quicktime movies (.MOV), or 3D surface models (.STL). Click on the specimen number link to see details about these media items. This is the newest part of this database and new media items are being added. For more information and samples of 3-D images, you might want to also visit UT's DigiMorph site.

You may download the table of your results into a file. You may choose from two file formats: Excel spreadsheet (.XLS) or a simple comma-separated-value text file (.CSV). To begin your download, use the buttons at the top right of the table of search results. Depending on your browser and computer settings, the next step will be either to open the file or to choose a location on your computer to save the file.

At the top of this page, there are links to return to your search results, start a new search, or go to the Browse Localities section.

Individual Specimen Details Help

This page displays details for a single specimen.

**The following types of data will be displayed:**
Data type	Examples	Explanation
Specimen ID (Specimen Number)	TMM-43646-1 TAMU-3-2141	A three-part number that universally identifies paleontological specimens. The three parts are: (1) the collection code (such as TMM); (2) the locality code number (such as 43646); and (3) a number for each individual specimen from each location (such as 1, 2, 3, etc.). Click on this number to view more details about this specimen.
Taxon	Tyrannosaurus rex (species) Mammuthus (genus) Saurischia (order) Tetrapoda (superclass) ?Pliohippus (genus)	A scientific name that indicates the most-specific-ranking taxon that was recorded for each specimen. A specimen would ideally have been identified to the level of species, but if the species was not known, the specimen may have been identified as belonging to a higher-level taxon, such as genus, family, order, etc. Note that some identifications were tentative or uncertain, as indicated by a question mark (?).
Type Status	Holotype Paratype cast	Special categories for specimens that are cited in literature. Holotype is the specimen upon which a new species was based. Paratype is a specimen that belongs to the same species as the holotype. Cast is usually a cast of a holotype specimen, especially where the real, original holotype specimen belongs to another museum.
Description	maxilla femur ?metatarsal?	Description of the skeletal part or element, if not an entire skeleton. Note that uncertainty is indicated by a question mark (?).
Locality ID (number)	40090 31247 10	The paleontologists' code number for a site where a specimen was originally found. This code number is unique only within a particular collection.
Locality Name	Onion Creek Lucas Ranch Waco	The paleontologists' common name for a site where a specimen was originally found. These names are not necessarily unique.
Geographic Location	Texas, Travis (county) Texas (state) Spain (country)	The county, parish, state, province, country, or continent where the locality (original find site) was located. There are other location categories which appear in a few cases. The database indicates the most-specific geographic unit that was recorded for each specimen. So, a record would ideally have the county or parish listed, but if the county or parish was not recorded, the location may be known only to the level of state or country. The database does not always indicate the state to which a county belongs, and rarely indicates the country to which a state or providence belongs, etc.
Geologic Unit	Cenozoic (era) Cretaceous, Lower (period) Pleistocene (epoch) Rancholabrean (age)	The geologic era, period, epoch, or age to which the specimen was thought to belong. The database indicates the most-specific geologic unit that was recorded for each specimen. So, a record would ideally have the geologic age identified, but if the geologic age was not known, the geologic unit may have been identified to the level of epoch, period, or era. Some records have no geologic unit identified. The database rarely indicates the higher-ranking units to which a given geologic unit belongs.
Stratigraphic Unit	Navarro (formation) Aguja (formation) Wasatch (group) Pre-Tecovas (horizon) Chisos, Goat Mountain (member)	The stratigraphic formation, horizon, group, or member to which the specimen was thought to belong. The database indicates the most-specific stratigraphic unit that was recorded for each specimen. So, a record would ideally have the stratigraphic member identified, but if the stratigraphic member was not known, the stratigraphic unit may have been identified to the level of horizon, group, or formation. Some records have no stratigraphic unit identified. The database rarely indicates the higher-ranking units to which a given stratigraphic unit belongs.
Identified by	Dr. Timothy Rowe	The name of the researcher or scientist who identified the taxon of the specimen, if recorded.
Collector	Dr. Timothy Rowe	The name of the researcher(s) or scientist(s) who originally colelcted the specimen, if recorded.
Collection	TMM TAMU	A code, usually an acronym, for the institution which initiated a particular collection. Forms the first part of a specimen number.
Special Collection	Navajo Nation	If present, this indicates that the specimen is part of a collection that was aquired by the TMM as a special group or under special circumstances.
Media Items	.JPG .MOV .STL	Each icon indicates a media item that is associated with this specimen. One media item may be previewed on this page. Media items may be photos (.JPG), Quicktime movies (.MOV), or 3D surface models (.STL). Click on each icon to view the media item--your browser may either open the file or prompt you to download the file. You may need an appropriate browser plugin to view some files. This is the newest part of this database and new media items are being added. For more about 3-D images, you might want to also visit UT's DigiMorph site.

At the top of this page, there are links to return to your search results, start a new search, or go to the Browse Localities section.

Browse Localities Help

This section is simply an alphabetical list of all localities recorded in our collection (localities are sites where specimens were originally found). Each locality is displayed in this format: site name - site number [number of specimens within this locality].

You may choose a letter of the alphabet to jump to the listings of localities that begin with that letter, or you may choose to move through pages by using the "next" and "previous" buttons. When you click on the name of a locality, you will display the details for that locality (described below).

Notice that the top of the page shows the number of specimens and localities that are recorded in our database.
There is also a link to the search page.

Individual Locality Details Help

This page displays details for a single locality.

**The following types of data will be displayed:**
Data type	Examples	Explanation
Locality ID (number)	40090 31247 10	The paleontologists' code number for a site where a specimen was originally found. This code number is unique only within a particular collection.
Locality Name	Onion Creek Lucas Ranch Waco	The paleontologists' common name for a site where a specimen was originally found. These names are not necessarily unique.
Special Collection	Navajo Nation	If present, this indicates that the specimen is part of a collection that was aquired by the TMM as a group or under special circumstances.
Geologic Unit	Cenozoic (era) Cretaceous, Lower (period) Pleistocene (epoch) Rancholabrean (age)	The geologic era, period, epoch, or age to which the specimen was thought to belong. The database indicates the most-specific geologic unit that was recorded for each specimen. So, a record would ideally have the geologic age identified, but if the geologic age was not known, the geologic unit may have been identified to the level of epoch, period, or era. Some records have no geologic unit identified. The database rarely indicates the higher-ranking units to which a given geologic unit belongs.
Stratigraphic Unit	Navarro (formation) Aguja (formation) Wasatch (group) Pre-Tecovas (horizon) Chisos, Goat Mountain (member)	The stratigraphic formation, horizon, group, or member to which the specimen was thought to belong. The database indicates the most-specific stratigraphic unit that was recorded for each specimen. So, a record would ideally have the stratigraphic member identified, but if the stratigraphic member was not known, the stratigraphic unit may have been identified to the level of horizon, group, or formation. Some records have no stratigraphic unit identified. The database rarely indicates the higher-ranking units to which a given stratigraphic unit belongs.
Geographic Location	Texas, Travis (county) Texas (state) Spain (country)	The county, parish, state, province, country, or continent where the locality was located. There are other location categories which appear in a few cases. The database indicates the most-specific geographic unit that was recorded for each locality. So, a record would ideally have the county or parish listed, but if the county or parish was not recorded, the location may be known only to the level of state or country. The database does not always indicate the state to which a county belongs, and rarely indicates the country to which a state or providence belongs, etc.
Media associated with this locality	.JPG .MOV .STL	Each icon indicates a media item that is associated with this specimen. One media item may be previewed on this page. Media items may be photos (.JPG), Quicktime movies (.MOV), or 3D surface models (.STL). Click on each icon to view the media item--your browser may either open the file or prompt you to download the file. You may need an appropriate browser plugin to view some files. This is the newest part of this database and new media items are being added. For more about 3-D images, you might want to also visit UT's DigiMorph site.

At the bottom of the page you will see the number of specimens in our collection that have been recorded from this locality. Click on the link to see a table of these specimens (these will display just like search results, as described above).

At the top of this page, there are links to start a new search, or go back to browse localities.

Contacts and Project Credits

**Online Database Project Team**
Role	Name	Contact Information
VPL Interim Collection Manager	Lyndon K. Murray	lkmurray [at] mail.utexas.edu
VPL Director	Dr. Timothy Rowe	rowe [at] mail.utexas.edu
Project Manager	F. Gress	Ms.G [at] NoitacudE.com
Lead Inteface Designer, Digital Imaging Handler	H. Steele	hsteele [at] steeleworksdesign.com
Lead Programmer and Database Engineer	Q. Kim	qwan_kim [at] hotmail.com
Interface Designer	Z. Liu	liuzhi [at] mail.utexas.edu
User Testing Handler	G. Choi	higilok [at] hotmail.com
Documentation Handler	T. Bogard	tbogard [at] mail.utexas.edu

Thanks also to:

Dr. Min Liu, Professor, School of Education (MLiu@mail.utexas.edu)
This project was completed by students in Dr. Liu's course Interactive Multimedia: Design and Production (EDC 385G, Fall, 2004). Thanks also to fellow students in that course.
Dr. Ernest Lundelius, Jr., VPL Director Emeritus
Dr. Wann Langston, Jr., VPL Director Emeritus
Dr. Ed Theriot, Texas Natural Science Center Director
Sharon Ruether, Texas Natural Science Center Webmaster (sruether@mail.utexas.edu)
Melissa Winans, Texas Natural Science Center Network/Server Administrator (mcwinans@mail.utexas.edu)
Students in Dr. Rowe's course GEO 302D, The Age of Dinosaurs

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Comments | Last update: April 16, 2009

Vertebrate Paleontology Laboratory Collection Database: Help