At 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 12, at the Calvert Marine Museum, we will celebrate the publication in the June issue of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, the naming of a new genus and species of extinct fossil dolphin from Calvert Cliffs.  The partial skull of this dolphin was discovered several years ago by Jean Hooper (long-time prep lab intern, fossil club member, and paleo volunteer).  This new species is named in her honor.

We will celebrate the official release of the scientific name of this dolphin, which is most closely related to the La Plata Dolphin, the only living species within the family Pontoporiidae.  During the Miocene epoch, pontoporiid dolphins had a much wider distribution than they do today.  Currently, they are known only from shallow marine waters off the southeast coast of South America.

Come and help us celebrate this important discovery.  The meeting will take place in the 3rd floor lounge of the museum.