Kansas' Hays’ Sternberg Museum of Natural History Hosts “The Science of SuperCroc” Exhibit hrough August 5

Kansas'  Hays’ Sternberg Museum of Natural History Hosts “The Science of SuperCroc” Exhibit Now Through August 5, 2010

March 18, 2010, Hays, Kan., … Open now, the Sternberg Museum of Natural History at Fort Hays State University is proud to showcase the biggest crocodile to have walked the earth.  At an impressive 40-feet long and 10 tons, the 110 million-year-old SuperCroc will be on display at the Sternberg Museum through August 5.

Sternberg unveiled “The Science of SuperCroc” on March 13, and marks just the fourth location in the world to showcase the entire exhibit. Previous displays were in the Netherlands, Chicago and Cincinnati.

Until recently, SuperCroc (Sarcosuchus) was known! primarily from a few tooth and armor scute fossils. In 1997 and again in 2000, Dr. Paul Sereno led a team of fossil hunters to explore the sands of the Sahara Desert in Niger.  Less than an hour into the four-month expedition of 2000, the team found a skull and connected vertebrae of a crocodilian so large it would make any size dinosaur think twice before stopping to drink at the river. With a six-foot skull featuring more than 100 teeth, SuperCroc was an adept hunter…of more than just fish.

In addition to a life-size flesh reconstruction of SuperCroc, displays include an authentic expedition field tent, a variety of gear and Dr. Sereno’s audio journal. Other parts of the exhibit display actual fossils, modern crocodile specimens and other evidence to reconstruct the biology, behavior and environment of this ancient monster. Various exhibits guide visitors through the process of scientific discovery. How did SuperCroc grow as big as a city bus? How do crocs communicate? How do we know what prehistoric worlds wer! e like? How is SuperCroc related to modern crocodiles?

A variety of educational programs will supplement the exhibition, including presentations by public speakers. Beginning March 20, kids can enjoy crocodile story time and exhibit-themed craft activities free with membership or museum admission each Saturday. On April 17, Dr. Sereno will be at the museum to talk about his fossil expeditions and scientific research.


For more information on traveling in Kansas, visit www.TravelKS.com.  Follow us at Facebook.com/TravelKS, and Twitter.com/TravelKS.


-end-