The first in-person Arran Natural History Society talk of 2024 will help address some misconceptions about Arran’s “dinosaur” footprints on the west side of the island.
Without spoiling the plot, the ‘dinosaur’ footprints are actually fossilised footprints of crocodile-like reptiles from the Triassic period nearly 250 million years ago.
But this is not at all disappointing to Dr Neil Clark, curator of palaeontology at University of Glasgow, who will present the facts of hand beasts or Cheirotherium, the scientific name given to these five-fingered impressions in the rocks.
In Monster of Blackwaterfoot, Dr Clark will describe how the footprints’ discovery was kept secret for years and how new ones are still being found.
Brodick Museum is one of only two locations in the world where examples can be seen away from their original location, the other being Oxford University Museum.
Nicknamed Jurassic Clark by the Times Educational Supplement, Dr Clark is based at the university’s Hunterian Museum and is regarded as a world authority on Scottish Jurassic era dinosaurs.
Jim Cassells will also be at the meeting with news about the publication of the next Arran Bird Report.
Refreshments will be served afterwards, giving members a chance to catch up and compare nature notes about what they have been up to during hibernation.
The meeting is in Ormidale Pavilion on March 5 at 7.30pm. Admission is free to members or by £5 donation.
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