NEW EQUUS SCOTTI LOCALITY FROM WEST TEXAS

Five (5) new Equus Scotti individuals have been excavated from the Pleistocene Tule Canyon area of West Texas.

The research focus was on the nature of the articulation of the bones and their relationship to extensive gypsum mineralization at the locality. The Tule beds are extensively preserved on the slopes of the Tule Canyon Wall in West Texas. The Tule sediments are fine grained, white, unconsolidated sands, interbedded with gray to green clays. This stratigraphic unit also consists of thin layers of limestone, volcanic ash, and an abundance of gypsum. The selenite crystals are often more than six (6) cm in length.

Portions of five E. Scotti individuals have been excavated. Site One: approximately 40-45% of the total skeleton, with many sections well articulated. The skull is intact with well preserved teeth. Gypsum mineralization permeates the marrow and bone mass as well as the matrix within the boundary of fossils. Site Two: many of the following bones are not articulated: teeth, legs, ribs hoof along with bone fragments. This individual was less than 30% complete. Site Three: plainly shows vertebrae and ribs with a variable amount of gypsum filling in around the bones. This individual is also around 30% complete. Site Four: individual is 60% complete. Here the skull is complete enough to indicate a female or a juvenile. The mineralization here not only surrounds the bones but infiltrates the anatomy (marrow area). Site Five: This individual is surrounded by gypsum, volcanic residues and clays. The excavation revealed fragments of vertebra and ribs. Interestingly, this individual has 75% of the tail and associated vertebra articulated.

This research raises interesting questions about the sources of the gypsum mineralization and the nature of the deposition, which allowed such excellent preservation of E. Scotti articulated bones.