Associate professor of geology and geography James Lamsdell fulfilled one of his childhood dreams when scientists from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science named a newly discovered fossilized creature after him: Hibbertopterus lamsdelli. The 4-foot-long fossilized creature was discovered in 305-million-year-old rocks in the Manzano Mountains of New Mexico.
"Having a species named after me is a huge surprise — it is one of the greatest honors a researcher can receive," said Lamsdell, who is an expert on fossil sea scorpions. The Hibbertopterus lamsdelli is only the fourth fossil of this type ever found in North America.
Learn more about the discovery of the Hibbertopterus lamsdelli.