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 May 14
Paleo Projects DPS will meet Wednesday, May 14th, at 7PM Central time, in the Boonesville Auditorium (Room H125) in the Ellison Miles Building (Bldg H) at Brookhaven Campus of Dallas College, 3939 Valley View Lane, Farmers Branch. Dr. Ron Tykoski, Vice President of Science and Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Perot Museum, will give the main presentation on “DPS contributions to active Perot Museum paleo projects”. In addition, Brenda Costello of UT Arlington will receive her DPS scholarship and tell us about her planned research. Ron Tykoski earned a BS degree in Geology from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1995, and then went on for MS and PhD degrees from UT Austin. His masters research was on Syntarsus kayentakatae, and his PhD dissertation was titled “Anatomy, ontogeny, and phylogeny of coelophysoid theropods”. During this time he did fossil preparation in the university museums. In 2005 he joined the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, first as a fossil preparator, then director of the paleontology lab, then director of paleontology, then curator of vertebrate paleontology, and currently Vice President of Science. He has co-authored over 24 papers and 16 abstracts in vertebrate paleontology, and appeared in the media over 25 times. He has done field work in the Kayenta Formation of Arizona, Big Bend of Texas, and on more than 10 significant excavations of mosasaur, turtle, sauropod, and mammoth fossils in the North Texas area. He will tell us about some of the more recent projects and the contributions of DPS members. DPS meetings are open to the public and free! Members can bring food or snacks to share, and the society provides water or sodas. Everyone can bring fossils to show or for identification. Mystery specimens are especially welcome. The meeting will be streamed on Zoom at: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84751365480 (Meeting ID: 847 5136 5480 and Passcode: 819515). We apologize for the poor quality of the Zoom feed at the last meeting, and have worked with Brookhaven to solve the problems. But we encourage everyone to show up in person if you can, since it is guaranteed that you can see and hear the presentation that way, and we love to visit with you and look at fossils together.
FOSSILMANIA 2025 INFO! Expo Hours: Friday, October 24 8 am – 6 pm Saturday, October 25 9 am – 6 pm Sunday, October 26 9 am – 4 pm FOSSILMANIA, Texas’ longest running fossil-specific trade show, is held at the Expo at Glen Rose 202 Bo Gibbs Blvd, W Hwy 67, Glen Rose, Texas 76043. As a fossil-specific trade show, vendors are asked to, please, keep selection to a minimum of 75% fossil and paleontology related items (including, but not limited to fossils, books, clothing, equipment, tools, etc.). DPS Officers for 2025The officers for 2025 are: President: Joe O'Neil mailto:president@dallaspaleo.orgVice President: Dana Baggott mailto:vp@dallaspaleo.org Fossil Record Editor: David Hill mailto:editor@dallaspaleo.org Secretary: Julia Hall 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: food and drinks at the monthly meetings, refreshments on field trips, scholarships, and professional speakers for special meetings. Lake Ralph Hall/North Sulphur River, Fanin County
We at SMU prepared a short video about the Smithsonian exhibit, "Sea Monsters Unearthed: Life in Angola's Ancient Seas," that has been posted on the Embassy of Angola in the United States website (https://angola.org) and on the Embassy Facebook page. To see it, click on the link (https://angola.org), which will take you to the website. The video is playing without sound on the banner. Scroll down to Highlights and you will see a photo of a fossil. Click on that photo and you will see the video with sound and Portuguese captioning on the Embassy Facebook page. Attached is an information sheet about the exhibit, prepared for the Angolan Embassy. If you would like the video with English captioning, just let me know. Enjoy! Louis Jacobs, DPS Advisor jacobs@mail.SMU.edu NMNH Notice and Links_July 2020.docx (This will download to your computer to view.)
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 have been doing!Horseshoe Bend Field Trip Video 3/1/25 https://youtu.be/spYdTAWBwm8?t=3 Ash Grove Quarry Field Trip 3/16/25
Recent Publications 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 the link here 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 |
