Welcome to the Dallas Paleontological Society Website
The Dallas Paleontological Society was founded in 1984 for the purpose of promoting interest in and knowledge of the science of paleontology. It was intended by the founding members that the Society would be a network for the exchange of data between professionals and serious amateurs in this field.
Regular Monthly Meeting for January
Classic depiction of a long-necked plesiosaur with a narrow neck in a snake-like pose. Painting of Elasmosaurus platyurus by Charles R. Knight (1897). Long Necks Not beers. Plesiosaurs. The Dallas Paleontological Society will meet next on Wednesday, January 14th, at 7PM Central time, at a brand new venue called The View at Storm Lake, in the Viridian development (close to the Arlington Archosaur Site). The address is 1707 Viridian Park Lane, Arlington, Texas. Entry to the development is from Collins Street, and parking in the small lot and along the streets is free (but please don’t park off the pavement). Car-pooling to save energy and ease parking is encouraged. Note that this is NOT where we met back in March of 2025, but about a mile farther east. Punch in the address in your phone or car GPS and meet us there to hear Dr. Miguel Marx of Lund University in Sweden speak on “The shape of a sea monster: New views on the appearance and paleobiology of long-necked plesiosaurs”. Miguel earned double bachelor degrees in geology and biology from the University of Mary Washington in Virginia. During this time he helped excavate a pterosaur trackway in Lourinhã, Portugal led by Dr. Octávio Mateus from the New University of Lisbon (UNL). He then attended UNL for his master’s degree under Dr. Mateus. He focused on a new elasmosaurid plesiosaur specimen, excavated from Angola by the Projecto PaleoAngola team (an SMU partnership) in the summer of 2017. Miguel then went to Sweden, where he earned his PhD under Dr. Johan Lindgren (a former Chuck Finsley Honorary Lecturer) at Lund University. Dr. Marx’s dissertation was titled “A comprehensive approach to the study of plesiosaurs - paleobiology, paleophysiology, and phylogeny”. DPS meetings are free and open to the public, and everyone interested in science and fossils is invited. Members can bring snacks and food to share, and the society provides bottled water. Everyone can bring fossils to show off or for identification help. Try something new in the new year, and come find this new meeting location!
Modern take on the appearance of a long-necked plesiosaur, with a thicker straight neck and tail fin. Plesiopterys wildi by Joschua Knüppe (2025). DPS DPS Officers for 2026The officers for 2026 are: President: Joe O'Neil mailto:president@dallaspaleo.orgVice President: Stephan Gozdecki mailto:vp@dallaspaleo.org Fossil Record Editor: Andrew Stuck mailto:editor@dallaspaleo.org Secretary: Darlene Summerfelt mailto:secretary@dallaspaleo.org Treasurer Pam (Paul) Lowers mailto:treasurer@dallaspaleo.org Fossil Bits and PiecesThe DPS offers extra benefits for Members. Types of Memberships and costs of each can be found under MEMBERSHIP choice in the menu bar, then New Member Online Application. Below is a list of what Members receive and the reasons you should plan to join (or re-join) us in our paleo adventures! MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS Newsletter: The Fossil Record, the Society’s monthly newsletter, is sent to all Members. Volunteerism: Volunteer opportunities to work the DPS booths provides community outreach, interaction with the public, and occasionally free entry to an event. We need volunteers for all committees (to see our list of committees, click here) and activities. Special Events: Members receive Eblasts on surprise events and reminders of upcoming events. DPS Website: Current members have access to the Members only section of the DPS website, which includes the Membership Directory, past newsletters, and more. Field Trips: Some field trips have limited access (quarries, Oklahoma trilobites, etc.), and some field trips are designated Members-Only. Excavations: Participation in Fossil Bureau of Investigation (FBI) excavations. Discounts: Fossil prep kits, display items, books, and other unique items are occasionally offered at a discount to Members. Occasional Papers: Each Occasional Papers is a collection of in-depth articles on paleontology written by members. One copy per membership is free to members for a limited time immediately following publication. Past Occasional Papers are available for purchase. Family: Family Membership provides a discount to a second adult and allows for PIT Crew membership in which children can participate in special PIT Crew-only workshops, classroom activities, and field trips. Dues pay for: drinks at the monthly meetings, refreshments on field trips, scholarships, and professional speakers for special meetings. Lake Ralph Hall/North Sulphur River, Fanin County Here is the news history on the construction of the Dam and Lake.
This links to the newsletter from the lake about current information.
We are very happy to announce that the very first Occasional Papers Volume 1, written by 9 members of the founding group of the DPS is now available to download! It is under the HOME choice on the menu bar, then Members-Only Content and then Documents and Resources.
To see the info for Earth Science week, click here. 
The Paleontograph back issues are now available at the following link https://www.aaps-journal.org/the-paleontograph.html
Dallas Library and DPSThe Dallas Library’s Podcast on Natural Dallas (P.O.N.D.) Annual Community Nature Expo includes a video featuring the DPS. Please watch all the videos for some interesting things to do and learn about in the outside world. Visit http://dallaslibrary2.org/pond/ for the videos. | Upcoming Events
What we are doing!The DPS has been visiting several parts of town. DPS got a mention in a North Texas Daily article about our participation in the "Denton Dig It" event. It's in the newspaper for UNT in Denton. Frisco Library's Science Night Details here - Community Science Night | Events | Frisco Public Libra Whiteside Museum's PermianFest Times and tickets - 2025 MUSEUM EXPANSION | WMNH Bonham State Park Recent Publications
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Recently Published Papers on the Pennsylvanian Fossils from Jacksboro Check out the new webpage of the Texas Pennsylvanian Study Group....you will be impressed! Now Available! Order your T-Shirt Now. Click on the image to see details.
Also Available Now
Join us now
Come and join us for a great time at our next meeting, and click below to become a member. Individual and Family memberships are available, and kids can participate in the PIT Crew (Paleontologists In Training). Mail Check to: DPS PO BOX 223846 Dallas, Texas 75222-3846 The PIT Crew
For more information, Click this link pitcrew@dallaspaleo.org or click the link under the HOME page called "For Kids - The Pit Crew", to see policies, upcoming events, announcements, and how to sign up to take advantage of this program. About Us and Our Monthly MeetingsThe Dallas Paleontological Society normally meets the second Wednesday of every month at 7:00 PM. |
Copies can be purchased at monthly meetings for instant gratification. Or the book can be purchased and shipped to your home by 
The Paleontologists In Training is a program of the DPS that is open to kids from age 7 to 15. If you are interested in fossils, want to have fun on field trips, and like learning about our beautiful world, come join us at one of our meetings, or field trips. You will find it educational, and fun at the same time!Buy DPS Books OnlineYou can now buy books from the DPS online by clicking the "Store" button on the navigation bar at the top of this page. If you buy online, and we ship the books to your home, you will have a shipping charge and tax. If you buy the book at a meeting, you will not have to pay the shipping fee or tax. Check out this new service. Questions For DPS?If You have any questions about the Dallas Paleo Society feel free to: Contact Us Hot Line 817-355-4693 |
Who we areThe DPS is a group of professional and amateur paleontologists that want to exchange information, interact, and continue their education in paleontology. We meet once a month on the second Wednesday evening of the month at Brookhaven College, Building H. Mailing address: Dallas Paleontological Society
| What we do
Do you have a question? If you have a fossil you cannot identify, or need a site investigation, contact the Fossil Bureau of Investigation for help. Contact Us at 817-355-4693.
| Why join usWe have fun. We learn stuff. We go cool places. We find interesting things. We make new friends.
Visiting Researcher Program The Dallas Paleontological Society (DPS) offers local logistical assistance to professionals/academics conducting research in the North Central Texas area. Assistance may include the loan of tools, but is not financial. Past projects have included providing transportation to field sites, assistance in locating particular fossils or outcrops of a particular formation, field collection and excavation. If you are interested in assistance, please contact the DPS President at president@dallaspaleo.org |
