Prehistoric Trackways National Monument
Encyclopedia
Prehistoric Trackways National Monument is the 100th national monument
in The United States of America. The monument is located in the Robledo Mountains
, near Las Cruces
in the southern region of the U.S. state
of New Mexico
. The monument's fossilized features are on 5280 acre (21.37 km²; 8.25 sq mi) of Bureau of Land Management
administered land in Doña Ana County
.
fossil
ized footprints in fossil mega-trackway
s of land animals, sea creatures, and insects. These are known as trace fossils or ichnofossils. There are also fossilized plants and petrified wood present. Much of the fossilized material originated during the Permian Period and is around 280 million years old.
Some of the animals who may have left tracks in the Robledo mountains include; Dimetrodon
, Eryops
, Edaphosaurus
, and multiple other pelycosaurs.
There are at least 13 major trace fossils found at the monument and include Selenichnites (sel-EEN-ick-NIGHT eez) or moon-shaped trace, Kouphichnium (koof-ICK-nee-um) or light trace, Palmichnium (pal-ICK-nee-um) or palm [frond] trace, Octopodichnus (oct-toe-pod-ICK-nuss) or eight-footed trace, Lithographus (lith-oh-GRAFF-us) or rock writing, Tonanoxichnus (tong-a-nox-ICK-nuss) or Tonganoxie [Kansas] trace, Augerinoichnus (aw-gurr-EE-no-ICK-nuss) or Augerino trace, Undichna (und-ICK-nuh) or wave-shaped trace, Serpentichnus (serpent-ICK-nuss) or snake-like trace, Batrachichnus (baa-track ICK-nuss) or frog trace, Dromopus (dro-MOE-puss) or running foot, and Dimetropus (die-MEET-row puss) or Dimetrodon foot.
Trackways can be difficult for the general public to find at the monument and there is very little in the way of interpretation. Many of the slabs pulled out by Jerry MacDonald are housed at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
, although they are not on display at this time. The Las Cruces Museum of Natural History is building a new facility that will feature the trackways but is not due to open till 2012.
There are plenty of marine invertebrate fossils to be found in the monument, they include Brachiopods, Gastropods, Cephalopods, Bivalves, and Echinoderms.
in the Jerry MacDonald Paleozoic Trackways Collection. Two other continuous trackways are held in the Carnegie Museum and Smithsonian.
(D-NM) and Pete Domenici
(R-NM) and was part of the National Landscape Conservation System
of the United States of America under the Omnibus Public Land Management Act
, signed into law on March 30, 2009.
This is first National Monument established under the Barack Obama
administration, and the fourth established in 2009. At the time of its establishment, it was the 100th active National Monument in the United States.
and is within part of the Robledo Mountains
. It is made up of Cenozoic
and Paleozoic
(Hueco Group ) sediments. The Hueco Group is early Permian
strata . Most of the monument is Permian
and would have been under water or along the coast of what was once the Hueco Seaway. The tracks can be found in the red rock which is called the abo red beds.
, mesquite
, creosote bush
, prickly-pear cactus, torrey yucca, barrel cactus
, stool
, agave
and snake weed. A few of the animals that you may see are mule deer
, rattlesnakes, desert cottontail
, many species of lizards, and several species of birds.
Fossil trackways in the United States
National monument
A National monument is a monument constructed in order to commemorate something of national importance such as a war or the country's founding. The term may also refer to a specific monument status, such as a National Heritage Site, which most national monuments are by reason of their cultural...
in The United States of America. The monument is located in the Robledo Mountains
Robledo Mountains
The Robledo Mountains are a mountain range in Doña Ana County, New Mexico just northwest of Las Cruces. The range was named for Pedro Robledo, who died on May 21, 1598 and was buried nearby. Robledo was the first casualty of the Oñate expedition to colonize the upper Rio Grande valley...
, near Las Cruces
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Las Cruces, also known as "The City of the Crosses", is the county seat of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 97,618 in 2010 according to the 2010 Census, making it the second largest city in the state....
in the southern region of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. The monument's fossilized features are on 5280 acre (21.37 km²; 8.25 sq mi) of Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
administered land in Doña Ana County
Doña Ana County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*74.1% White*1.7% Black*1.5% Native American*1.1% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.0% Two or more races*18.5% Other races*65.7% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
.
Fossils
The Prehistoric Trackways National Monument site includes a major deposit of Paleozoic EraPaleozoic
The Paleozoic era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon, spanning from roughly...
fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
ized footprints in fossil mega-trackway
Fossil trackway
A fossil trackway is a type of trace fossil, a trackway made by an organism. Many fossil trackways were made by dinosaurs, early tetrapods, and other quadrupeds and bipeds on land...
s of land animals, sea creatures, and insects. These are known as trace fossils or ichnofossils. There are also fossilized plants and petrified wood present. Much of the fossilized material originated during the Permian Period and is around 280 million years old.
Some of the animals who may have left tracks in the Robledo mountains include; Dimetrodon
Dimetrodon
Dimetrodon was a predatory synapsid genus that flourished during the Permian period, living between 280–265 million years ago ....
, Eryops
Eryops
Eryops meaning "drawn-out face" because most of its skull was in front of its eyes is a genus of extinct, semi-aquatic amphibian found primarily in the Lower Permian-aged Admiral Formation of Archer County, Texas, but fossils are also found in New Mexico and parts of the eastern United...
, Edaphosaurus
Edaphosaurus
Edaphosaurus is a genus of prehistoric synapsid which lived around 303 to 265 million years ago, during the late Carboniferous to early Permian periods. The name Edaphosaurus means "ground lizard" and is derived from the Greek edaphos/εδαφος and σαυρος/sauros...
, and multiple other pelycosaurs.
There are at least 13 major trace fossils found at the monument and include Selenichnites (sel-EEN-ick-NIGHT eez) or moon-shaped trace, Kouphichnium (koof-ICK-nee-um) or light trace, Palmichnium (pal-ICK-nee-um) or palm [frond] trace, Octopodichnus (oct-toe-pod-ICK-nuss) or eight-footed trace, Lithographus (lith-oh-GRAFF-us) or rock writing, Tonanoxichnus (tong-a-nox-ICK-nuss) or Tonganoxie [Kansas] trace, Augerinoichnus (aw-gurr-EE-no-ICK-nuss) or Augerino trace, Undichna (und-ICK-nuh) or wave-shaped trace, Serpentichnus (serpent-ICK-nuss) or snake-like trace, Batrachichnus (baa-track ICK-nuss) or frog trace, Dromopus (dro-MOE-puss) or running foot, and Dimetropus (die-MEET-row puss) or Dimetrodon foot.
Trackways can be difficult for the general public to find at the monument and there is very little in the way of interpretation. Many of the slabs pulled out by Jerry MacDonald are housed at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science is a natural history and science museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico near Old Town Albuquerque. The Museum was founded in 1986....
, although they are not on display at this time. The Las Cruces Museum of Natural History is building a new facility that will feature the trackways but is not due to open till 2012.
There are plenty of marine invertebrate fossils to be found in the monument, they include Brachiopods, Gastropods, Cephalopods, Bivalves, and Echinoderms.
Discovery
In situ Paleozoic Era tracks were discovered on June 6, 1987 by Jerry Paul MacDonald. Scattered footprints had been found in the Robledo’s for almost fifty years prior to Jerry MacDonald starting his search. He used the recollections of local hikers, quarrymen, and fossil hunters to concentrate his search. This initial site was named the “Discovery Site”. It is one of the best places in the monument for visitors to see fossilized tracks. Jerry MacDonald excavated three long trackways, carrying over 2500 slabs out from the site on his back. The majority of the slabs are housed in the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and ScienceNew Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science is a natural history and science museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico near Old Town Albuquerque. The Museum was founded in 1986....
in the Jerry MacDonald Paleozoic Trackways Collection. Two other continuous trackways are held in the Carnegie Museum and Smithsonian.
Monument Designation
Prehistoric Trackways National Monument was sponsored by Senators Jeff BingamanJeff Bingaman
Jesse Francis "Jeff" Bingaman, Jr. , is the senior U.S. Senator from New Mexico and a member of the Democratic Party...
(D-NM) and Pete Domenici
Pete Domenici
Pietro Vichi "Pete" Domenici is an American Republican politician, who served six terms as a United States Senator from New Mexico, from 1973 to 2009, the longest tenure in the state's history....
(R-NM) and was part of the National Landscape Conservation System
National Landscape Conservation System
The National Landscape Conservation System is a collection of the lands considered to be the crown jewels of the American west. NLCS is also known as National Conservation Lands. These lands represent 10% of the managed by the Bureau of Land Management...
of the United States of America under the Omnibus Public Land Management Act
Omnibus Public Land Management Act
The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 is a law passed in the 111th United States Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 30, 2009.-110th Congress:...
, signed into law on March 30, 2009.
This is first National Monument established under the Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
administration, and the fourth established in 2009. At the time of its establishment, it was the 100th active National Monument in the United States.
Recreation
The Bureau of Land Management is in the process of writing a resource management plan for the monument to be completed in 2012. In the meantime, there are no developed hiking and equestrian trails, and only one interpretive sign. Roads are not maintained and there are no facilities. There are OHV and mountain bike trails, which are rugged and require appropriate skills and equipment.Geology
The monument lies along the western portion of the Rio Grande riftRio Grande Rift
The Rio Grande Rift is a north-trending continental rift zone. It separates the Colorado Plateau in the west from the interior of the North American craton on the east. The rift extends from central Colorado in the north to the state of Chihuahua, Mexico in the south. The rift zone consists of four...
and is within part of the Robledo Mountains
Robledo Mountains
The Robledo Mountains are a mountain range in Doña Ana County, New Mexico just northwest of Las Cruces. The range was named for Pedro Robledo, who died on May 21, 1598 and was buried nearby. Robledo was the first casualty of the Oñate expedition to colonize the upper Rio Grande valley...
. It is made up of Cenozoic
Cenozoic
The Cenozoic era is the current and most recent of the three Phanerozoic geological eras and covers the period from 65.5 mya to the present. The era began in the wake of the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous that saw the demise of the last non-avian dinosaurs and...
and Paleozoic
Paleozoic
The Paleozoic era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon, spanning from roughly...
(Hueco Group ) sediments. The Hueco Group is early Permian
Permian
The PermianThe term "Permian" was introduced into geology in 1841 by Sir Sir R. I. Murchison, president of the Geological Society of London, who identified typical strata in extensive Russian explorations undertaken with Edouard de Verneuil; Murchison asserted in 1841 that he named his "Permian...
strata . Most of the monument is Permian
Permian
The PermianThe term "Permian" was introduced into geology in 1841 by Sir Sir R. I. Murchison, president of the Geological Society of London, who identified typical strata in extensive Russian explorations undertaken with Edouard de Verneuil; Murchison asserted in 1841 that he named his "Permian...
and would have been under water or along the coast of what was once the Hueco Seaway. The tracks can be found in the red rock which is called the abo red beds.
Flora and Fauna
The monument is in the northern tip of the Chihuahuan Desert. Some examples of plants within the monument are ocotilloOcotillo
Fouquieria splendens Engelm. is a desert plant of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Common names include ocotillo, desert coral, coachwhip, Jacob's staff, and vine cactus, although it is not a true cactus...
, mesquite
Mesquite
Mesquite is a leguminous plant of the Prosopis genus found in northern Mexico through the Sonoran Desert and Chihuahuan Deserts, and up into the Southwestern United States as far north as southern Kansas, west to the Colorado Desert in California,and east to the eastern fifth of Texas, where...
, creosote bush
Creosote bush
Larrea tridentata is known as Creosote bush as a plant, chaparral as a medicinal herb, and as "gobernadora" in Mexico, Spanish for "governess," due to its ability for inhibiting the growth of nearby plants to have more water. In Sonora, it is more commonly called "hediondilla." It is a flowering...
, prickly-pear cactus, torrey yucca, barrel cactus
Barrel cactus
Barrel cacti are classified into the two genera Echinocactus and Ferocactus, both of which are found in the Southwest Desert of North America. Their pineapple-shaped fruits can be easily removed but are not recommended for eating. The barrel cactus may reach over a metre in height. Its ribs are...
, stool
Stool
Stool may refer to:*Stool , a type of seat without back or arm rests** A bar stool** A footstool** A Stool , an alphabetic uniliteral sign of ancient Egypt** In West Africa, a throne* A flush toilet, in some dialects...
, agave
Agave
Agave is a genus of monocots. The plants are perennial, but each rosette flowers once and then dies ; they are commonly known as the century plant....
and snake weed. A few of the animals that you may see are mule deer
Mule Deer
The mule deer is a deer indigenous to western North America. The Mule Deer gets its name from its large mule-like ears. There are believed to be several subspecies, including the black-tailed deer...
, rattlesnakes, desert cottontail
Desert Cottontail
The Desert Cottontail , also known as Audubon's Cottontail, is a New World cottontail rabbit, a member of the family Leporidae....
, many species of lizards, and several species of birds.
Climate
On average the coolest month in the monument is January with an average high of 57 degrees F, the hottest month is June with an average temperature of 94 degrees F, and the wettest month is August with about 2.52 inches of rain fall.See also
- WalchiaWalchiaWalchia is a fossil conifer, cypress-like genus of Upper Pennsylvanian and lower Permian . It is found in Europe; also North America...
- Monuran trackwayMonuran trackwayThe Monuran trackway is a fossil trackway in the Robledo Mountains of New Mexico, produced by the extinct insect group called Monura, , from the Lower Permian. The monuran is a wingless jumping insect; thus the means of locomotion is jumping, then walking...
Fossil trackways in the United States
- White Sands National MonumentWhite Sands National MonumentThe White Sands National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located about southwest of Alamogordo in western Otero County and northeastern Dona Ana County in the state of New Mexico, at an elevation of 4235 feet...