Thursday, January 26, 2006

What Exit Are You From?

As evidence that good things (or at least interesting things) come from the sea, including the Great State of New Jersey, the fossil of a large crocodile found in the Garden State is now on display at Drexel University. The 15 foot creature was native to New Jersey 65 million years ago, when the climate was much warmer and the land mass was under water as far west as the New Jersey Turnpike.

And no, I don't know WHICH EXIT leads to the croc's home, but it's somewhere in Gloucester County. That's right, It Came From Gloucester County.

The fossil is from the late Cretaceous period. Apparently, there was once an even larger species, one reaching up to 45 feet in length. It ate dinosaurs for a living.

I read about this over at Philly.com. The take-away bit of trivia in the article comes from the creature's name: Thoracosaurus neocesariensis. Quoting the article:

"The species name, neocesariensis, means New Jersey. ("Jersey" is derived from "Caesar.")

Dinosaurs and Roman emperors. Just two more things to love about New Jersey.

7 comments:

missmagnoliathunderpussy said...

"fossil of a large crocodile found in the Garden State".

Darling, don't be too suprised, how do you think Pax made the money to pay for his new monitor, and the extra cash keeps Whatshisname in shoes and blue eye shadow.

It also involves a modest outlay of cash from Drexel University, all Pax requires ia a fitted sheet and daylight.

Personaly darling, I think we should support our darling Pax, we could get a bus and take a field trip to Gloucester County and se the third thing to love about New Jersey!

Virginia Gal said...

Goodness, Jersey, just a bundle of surprises, no?

I bet Jimmy Hoffa is somewhere under the Turnpike.

missmagnoliathunderpussy said...

Oh Miss Virginia, you you know Pax's passion for knick-knacks, you'll find Mr Hoffa at the Vila Romano, on the mantle, with a clock in his stomach.

Maidy said...

I saw that in the news last night. I must be a goober becasue I thought it was pretty cool (as did the Dinks). Now she wants to go see it.

So find out that exit will ya? ;)

Pax Romano said...

Merci,
It's like Miss T has magic looking glass and can see right into my humble abode...of course when is speaking of fossils and relics, well Magnolia is your gal!

Merci said...

Miss Magnolia-
Count me in on the field trip! If we can't find the croc, we'll dig a hole somewhere. We might find a victim of chloroform, with a little luck!

Virginia Gal-
Maybe we'll find Jimmy on Miss Magnolia's field trip!

Maidink-
Guess I'm a goober too. I'm thinking about going to see it next time I'm in Philly. I used to LOVE the University Museum with the mummies and the Egyptian artifacts when I was a kid.

Pax-
Next time I stop by the Villa I want to see the Hoffaclock.

Virginia Gal said...

Hoffaclock - HA HA!