Museum Of York County 2012SP Visit

Once again it was the privilege of the BIO 102 class to experience the Museum of York County under the guidance of Dr. Steve Fields.  We spent most of our time in the Naturalist Center studying fossils and mammal skulls.

I took a few photos that I wanted  the BIO 102 students to remember/be able to discuss.

Bobcat  Lynx rufus

Mountain Lion  Puma concolor

Note the Bobcat and Mountain Lion skulls.  They have canines and no molars.  Their canines overlap to enable them to bite through the spine at the cervical (neck) vertebrae, instantly killing their prey.  This is unlike wolves and hyenas that will eat the bowels of their prey, while the victim is still living.

Whitetail Deer Tracks

Whitetail  Deer Odocoileus virginianus 

The White tail deer is a common occurrence in York County, SC.

Macaw Skull

Opossum Didelphis virginiana

Domestic Cat  Felis catus (L.)  

The opossum is a marsupial, in contrast to placental mammals, such as the domestic cat.