Burgess Shale Collection

Wesleyan University obtained a small set of samples (listed below) from the U.S. National Museum (Smithsonian). We are very lucky to have this material from the locality made famous by Stephen J. Gould (1989; Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and the Nature of History; W.W.Norton & Co), by Simon Conway-Morris (1996; The Crucible of Creation, The Burgess Shale and the Rise of Animals; Oxford University Press). For a recent description of the fossil assemblages see D. E. G. Briggs, D. H. Erwin, F. J. Collier (1994): The Fossils of the Burgess Shale, Smithsonian Institution Press.

For web resources on the Burgess Shale:

Berkeley Museum site

University of Calgary site

Canadian National Parks sites

web-enhanced version of S. J. Gould (1986): Play it again, Life (Natural History, February 1986)

marella

ID #

Q'ty

Name

Author

Formation

Location

Acquired

B-182

1

Vauxia gracilenta

Walcott

Burgess Shale

Burgess Pass, near Field, British Columbia

US Nat. Museum

B-319

2

Wimanella simplex

Walcott

Ptarmigan

Popes Peak, above Ross Lake, British Columbia

US Nat. Museum

B-348

2

Diraphora bellicostata

Walcott

Burgess Shale

Burgess Pass, near Field, British Columbia

US Nat. Museum

B-400

1

Marpolia spissa

Walcott

Burgess Shale

Burgess Pass, near Field, British Columbia

US Nat. Museum

B-401

1

Eldonia ludwigi

Walcott

Burgess Shale

Burgess Pass, near Field, British Columbia

US Nat. Museum

B-404

1

Ottoia prolifica

Walcott

Burgess Shale

Burgess Pass, near Field, British Columbia

US Nat. Museum

B-407

1

Morania confluens

Walcott

Burgess Shale

Burgess Pass, near Field, British Columbia

US Nat. Museum

B-428

1

Scenella amii

Matthew

Burgess Shale

Burgess Pass, near Field, British Columbia

US Nat. Museum

B-453

1

Hyoliths carinatus

Walcott

Burgess Shale

Burgess Pass, near Field, British Columbia

US Nat. Museum

B-499

1

Marella splendens

Walcott

Burgess Shale

Burgess Pass, near Field, British Columbia

US Nat. Museum

B-502

1

Albertella bosworthi

 

Ptarmigan

Popes Peak, above Ross Lake, British Columbia

US Nat. Museum

B-508

2

Agnostus montis

Matthew

Burgess Shale

Burgess Pass, near Field, British Columbia

US Nat. Museum

B-514

1

Hymenocaris (=Canadaspis) perfecta

Walcott

Burgess Shale

Burgess Pass, near Field, British Columbia

US Nat. Museum