Herbert W. Meyer
Smithsonian Books, Washington, DC
2003, 258 pp.
Price: $39.95
ISBN: 1-58834-107-0 (hard cover)

The Fossils of Florissant is an impressive achievement in documenting the vast amount of fossilized material (primarily plant and insect species) that has been collected and described in the scientific literature over the past 130 years. Few paleontological sites of any age have furnished such detail with respect to soft-body impressions as Florissant National Park, Colorado. This quality of preservation makes this site a unique and impressive fossil assemblage. Soft-body impressions are extremely diagnostic in species identification, and it is proper identification that aids in the reconstruction of paleoenvironments. It should be noted that the preservation of any biological material is extremely rare; few biological hard parts find their way into depositional environments, and even fewer become fossilized or are recovered.

The text is not burdened with technical jargon. Just enough information is presented to expose the reader to basic geological concepts. This allows the reader to appreciate how spectacular this fossil site is, as is revealed through the pristine condition of plant and insect remains.

The book begins with a historical account of the discovery and initial collecting within the Florissant locale. This is followed with a synopsis of the past geological events of central Colorado, which ultimately contributed to the unique depositional environment surrounding the Florissant area.

Based on the geologic evidence and the exceptional preservational quality of the fossil remains, the author gives the audience a window to past taphonomic [fossilizing] events of the Eocene epoch 34 million years ago. The discussion of the geological processes that created the remarkable state of fossil preservation is presented in an easy-to-follow format, which accommodates an audience with minimal exposure to physical or historical geology.

The final three chapters are devoted to a succinct and informative discussion of the botanical, invertebrate, and vertebrate life forms recovered from Florissant. At the end of each chapter, a listing of related references is provided. An appendix provides a detailed listing of the fossil organisms from Florissant. This same fossil inventory is available through an on-line database maintained by the National Park Service. In addition, a comprehensive bibliography of all publications relevant to Florissant material is included, as well as an impressive assortment of representative photographic material.

The fact that Florissant site is biased toward the preservation of plant and insect species may be a limiting factor with respect the interest of the general public. However, any student of paleontology or paleobiology will appreciate the extensive bibliography and photographic material. Individuals with a specific interest in entomology or paleoentomology will find this text an excellent beginning resource. The fact that a concise listing of taxonomic names for all described fossil organisms has been assembled in a volume makes this a valuable asset for scientific inquiry. The photographic imagery will complement any discussion or lecture pertaining to entomology or taphonomy. It is my belief that anyone with an interest in natural history will benefit from reading these informative pages.

Rick Torres
Department of Biological Sciences
Ohio Northern University
Ada, Ohio