Charleston Museum

The Charleston Museum is now open with new safety protocols and guidelines in place for staff and visitors. Visit our website to learn what to expect - we look forward to welcoming you back to America’s First Museum. charlestonmuseum.org/news-events/co… #charleston @HolyCitySinner @ExploreCHS

Vertebrate paleontologists specialize in animal with backbones, like reptiles and mammals. The Charleston Museum has a wide variety of fossil organisms on display, both plant and animal, but specializes in the marine organisms that would have been found in the Lowcountry.

For example, paleobotanists study plants however some may specialize even further into just studying ferns. The same can be said for paleontologists who study animals. Invertebrate paleontologists focus more on animals lacking a backbone, like mollusks or insects.

Paleontology is the study of fossils. While most people think of dinosaurs, the diversity of different organisms that paleontologists could study is much wider. Many paleontologists tend to specialize in particular groups. #NationalFossilDay #mychasmuseum

@noaheverett @CityCharleston Yes, that is partial megalodon tooth!

Found a fossil tooth in a sinkhole 🧐 Is it a Megalodon tooth? P.S. @CityCharleston you have a sinkhole near Waterfront Park 😉 Cc @chasmuseum

For more #FossilFriday posts focusing on our collections, be sure to follow us!

However, even more interesting than large teeth are those that have unique characteristics. This C. angustidens tooth has a deformity that cause it to “twin”, essentially forming two teeth when there should have only been one. 2/2

Shark teeth are commonly found on beaches and in riverbeds in the Lowcountry. The most prized teeth among collectors are often the giant teeth left behind by Carcharocles (Otodus) angustidens and Carcharocles (Otodus) megalodon. #sharkweek #fossils #sharks #paleontology 1/2

You can read more about this project here: palaeo-electronica.org/content/2021/3… 5/5

This suggests that approximately 23 to 26 million years ago that the Charleston area would have been a nursery for this species of shark. A juvenile tooth can be seen on the left, whereas an adult tooth is on the right. 4/5

The Oligocene mega toothed shark Carcharocles (Otodus) angustidens was the focus of a recent study conducted by Addison Miller & Bobby Bossensecker (@CoastalPaleo) from the College of Charleston & NH Curator Matt Gibson (@fossiljockeymg). 1/ 5 #fossils #sharks #paleontology

#SharkWeek is coming up, so this month #FossilFriday is going to focus on fossil sharks found in the Lowcountry.

Two Saurornitholeses teeth and a single claw (seen in the first post) are on display in the Museum’s Bunting Natural History Gallery. #ondisplay #onexhibit

Although some non-avian dinosaurs may have been capable of gliding or rudimentary flying, none were as capable as modern birds. Some other uses dinosaurs may have had for feathers include attracting mates or warmth. #feathers #cladistics #fossiladdict #southcarolina #sc

#FossilFriday - Saurornitholestes is a small maniraptoran dinosaur, a clade that also includes the famous Velociraptor as well as modern birds. Like birds, non-avian dinosaurs in this clade are thought to have had feathers. #mychasmuseum #museum #naturalhistory #fossil #dinosaur

#charlestonmuseum #museum #museumcollection #naturalhistory #fossil #dinosaur #southcarolina #sc #upstate #ondisplay #onexhibit #supportmuseums #visitcharleston #explorecharleston #chas #museumvist #museumlover #charlestonsc #charlestondaily

Hadrosaurs are typically thought to have been herbivores. However, recent studies of their coprolites have shown that some may have also consumed shellfish. Most of the hadrosaur fossils found in SC are fragmentary, so it is unknown which particular species inhabited the area.

#FossilFriday - Hadrosaurs, aka duck-billed dinosaurs, would have been found in upstate South Carolina 86 - 66 million years ago. A hadrosaur leg bone (top middle), a jaw fragment (bottom left), and a tooth (bottom right) are currently on display in the Museum. #mychasmuseum

Photograph of soldiers returning home on the USS Mercury as it docked at the Charleston Port Terminal. Captured by E. Milby Burton in March of 1919. #fromthearchives #photo #photography #explorecharleston #freedom #gratitude #thankyou #ThankyouforyourService #ThankAVeteran

The Charleston Museum honors all who have served and those currently serving in the military. THANK YOU to all the brave women and men for their sacrifice. #VeteransDay #navy #chas #charleston #visitcharleston #lowcountry #mychasmuseum #charlestonmuseum #museum #museumcollection