Laelaps is the blog of freelance science writer 
My laptop is running a little slow, but here I am at the American Museum of Natural History's new "Extreme Mammals" exhibit. The selected casts, sculptures, and interactive displays live up to the exhibition's name. To my right is a life-sized cast of Puijila darwini, the transitional pinniped just announced a few weeks ago, and to my left is a reconstruction of the Arctic during the Eocene, complete with a Coryphodon munching on swamp plants.
The exhibit strikes a good balance between living mammals and bizarre extinct forms. While a Paraceratherium greets you as you enter, you'll also encounter sugar gliders, manatee skeletons, and interactive displays about mammal locomotion (you can even make a bat fly backwards, if you please).
What I'm here for, though, are the fossils. I just can't say no to displays of some of my old favorites like Uintatherium, Thylacoleo, and Smilodon. The AMNH has even resurrected it's old La Brea tar pits display for this one; just watch out for the dire wolf sneaking up behind you as you watch a Smilodon struggle to get at a trapped ground sloth.
I'm running out of time so I have to run for now, but expect more pictures (and details) soon!
Life Science
Comments
Post: just watch out for the fire wolf sneaking up behind you as you watch a Smilodon struggle
If i ever see a fire wolf, i set an ice charm level 19 and hope my melee strength are enough......
For other side, please post pics of the exhibit, for the ones who are too far to see it..... Thanks :)
Posted by: Edgar | May 15, 2009 9:32 PM