Saturday, September 23, 2006

 

Scientists find 2nd red panda fossil specimen (Tennessee)

Gray, Tennessee - Scientists uncovered a second fossil of a red panda species first discovered at the Gray Fossil Site two years ago. Researchers from East Tennessee State University found a lower jawbone from a red panda of the species Pristinailurus bristoli last week.

'The nice thing about it is that it's confirmation,' Dr. Steven Wallace (homepage), ETSU's lead paleontologist at the site, said Wednesday. 'You hate to have a one-shot wonder.'

The species was discovered in January 2004 when ETSU researchers found a panda tooth and other skeletal fragments. Only the second panda fossil found on the continent, the remains turned out to be a previously unknown species in the red panda family.
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See ETSU's Red Panda page

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