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Dimetrodon sp
(mammal)
Varanops sp
Seymouria sp
Araeoscelis
(lizard like)
Temnospondyl
(amphibian)
Gilmoreichus sp (pelycosaur)
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290 million years ago,
herds of animals left their footprints in the mud, and Walchia
trees fell to the ground....
In 1994 these fossilized track ways were
discovered by Howard van Allen on the shore at Brule. Being
situated in the inter-tidal zone and composed of soft rocks, the
race was on to record and preserve this important find before
they were destroyed by erosion.
The Walchia is a primitive coniferous
tree, and fossilized tree stumps, trunks and cones have been
found. Hundreds of footprints have been found, many not yet
positively identified, and most tracks were going in same
direction.
These fossils are from the beginning of the Permian age
and are an important find on several counts. This is the first
record of Walchia fossils to be found where they grew and they
give scientists a clue as to what the forest looked like. The
animal tracks are believed to show the earliest signs of herding
and social behaviour.
The Interpretive Centre is housed in the
former school house at Brule. Open June 1 to October 5
(2003).
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