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THE WEBB SCHOOLS

Peccary Scholars Tackle 2021-22 Projects

Some 30 Webb students tackled paleontological research topics ranging from turtles and birds to sharks, carnivorous mammals and, of course, dinosaurs in 2021-22.

Alf Museum Director Dr. Andy Farke introduced the students as Rogers Peccary Scholars during the 2021 Peccary Society Dinner on October 23, 2021.

Rogers Peccary Scholars, supported by the Mary Stuart Rogers Foundation, conduct original research into discoveries made by the Alf Museum during student-centered fossil-hunting trips.

The students include those in their first and second year of Advanced Studies in Paleontology, a course offered only at Webb. About 50 papers authored by Webb students through the program have been published in peer-reviewed journals.

“These students have demonstrated sustained dedication to paleontology,” Farke said. “They are discovering new knowledge.”

PROJECTS

FIRST-YEAR ADVANCED STUDIES STUDENTS Emilia Bordage ’23 – sauropod bone development Logan Causley ’22 – theropods, Mesaverde Formation Elizabeth Chai ’23 – turtles, Mesaverde Formation Clarence Deng ’23 – sharks, Mesaverde Formation Andy Fu ’23 – hadrosaur, Mesaverde Formation Valeria Gonzalez ’23 – turtles, Mesaverde Formation Aidan Helgeson ’23 – turtles, Lance Formation Daniel Hu ’23 – Hesperornis, Mesaverde Formation Pierre Sun ’23 – Hesperornis, Mesaverde Formation Zachary Wang ’23 – Hesperonis, Mesaverde Formation Terrence Wu ’23 – turtles, Mesaverde Formation Samuel Zeiden ’23 – sharks, Mesaverde Formation

SECOND-YEAR ADVANCED STUDIES STUDENTS Richard Alrachid ’22 – first known skull of the multituberculate Neoliotomus Josephine Burdekin ’22 – first record of the lizard Aciprion formosum, Montana Mikey Chai, ’22 – first record of the lizard Aciprion formosum, Montana Nathan Choi ’22 – a partial antelope skeleton, Barstow Formation, California Christopher Chung ’22 – the first known skull of the multituberculate Neoliotomus Joseph Ferrari ’22 – Parectypodus mckennai, a new species of multituberculate, Goler Formation, California Emma Holliday ’22 – new records of marsupials and rodents, Gravelly Range, Montana Rachel Hong ’22 – an articulated foot and jaw of Aleurodon, Barstow Formation, California Yvonne Kan ’22 – Parectypodus mckennai, a new species of multituberculate, Goler Formation, California Alexander Kong ’22 – new records of Eocene mammals, Sage Creek Basin, Montana Nicholas Lee ’22 – new records of Eocene mammals, Sage Creek Basin, Montana Catherine Li ’22 – the first known skull of the multituberculate Neoliotomus Laura Li ’22 – new records of Eocene mammals, Sage Creek Basin, Montana William Li ’22 – a nearly complete camel skeleton, Barstow Formation, California Caroline Metz ’22 – two new specimens of the rare carnivore Palaeogale, Montana Allison Paik ’22 – two new specimens of the rare carnivore Palaeogale, Montana Hank Sun ’22 – new records of marsupials and rodents, Gravelly Range, Montana Blake Suttner ’22 – two new specimens of the rare carnivore Palaeogale, Montana Jonathan Yu ’22 – new records of Eocene mammals, Sage Creek Basin, Montana