Fossils of Florissant & their Modern Relatives

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Fossils Come to Life

All of the plants and animals that lived during the Eocene in the Florissant area can only be seen as fossils. However, their modern relatives are alive and can be seen today! Through understanding where these modern species are found, we can have a better idea of what Eocene Florissant looked like 34 million years ago.

Although Florissant Fossil Beds is located in Colorado, many ancient species that once lived here have modern counterparts in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean Islands. Since many of these are found in Latin American countries, the common names for these species are often expressed in Spanish rather than English.

 

Fossils found at Florissant Fossil Beds and where their modern relatives are across Latin America and the Caribbean.

NPS Graphic / Karen Ceballos

 

Map Activity

Use your map reading skills to find:

Cedrela - West Indies cedar or cedro de agua

Found throughout Central America and Argentina.

Dodonaea - Hop bush or jarilla, tarachiquia

Found in Peru and Brazil.

Nanodelphys - Mexican mouse opossum or tlacuache

Found throughout Central America.

Thouinia - Guasimilla roja

Found in Mexico to the Caribbean.

Xylonagra - Vizcaíno Xylonagra

Found in Baja, Mexico.