H.C.R. No. 16
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Texas has become world famous for its many dinosaur
discoveries; and
WHEREAS, To honor the prehistoric reptiles that long ago
resided in the state, Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 57 of the
75th Texas Legislature named Brachiosaur Sauropod, Pleurocoelus,
as the official Lone Star State Dinosaur; this designation was
based on evidence that supported the presence of the dinosaur
Pleurocoelus in Texas; and
WHEREAS, Subsequently, the fossilized bones that were
thought to be Pleurocoelus have been properly identified as a new
species named Paluxysaurus jonesi; the identification was made by
Peter Rose during his graduate studies at Southern Methodist
University, and his findings have been widely accepted by other
scientists since being published in 2007; and
WHEREAS, The dinosaur is named for the town of Paluxy in Hood
County and for the Paluxy River, both of which are near the Jones
Ranch site where the fossils of this species were discovered; and
WHEREAS, Paluxysaurus jonesi inhabited the earth
approximately 95 to 112 million years ago, and these sauropods left
behind a rich record of their existence; in addition to the bone
fossils, evidence of the species exists in dinosaur footprints that
have been found throughout the state; the most famous of these
trackways runs along the Paluxy River and its tributaries, not far
from the Jones Ranch site; many of these footprints can be viewed at
Dinosaur Valley State Park, near the town of Glen Rose; and
WHEREAS, The bones and tracks reveal the massive scale of
Paluxysaurus; it is estimated that the dinosaur measured 70 feet
long and 12 feet high at the shoulder, and weighed as much as 20
tons; and
WHEREAS, Paluxysaurus continues to be the subject of
important paleontological research; a major dinosaur project is
ongoing at the Jones Ranch site, with the work being led by the Fort
Worth Museum of Science and History in partnership with Southern
Methodist University; moreover, a public exhibit of the bones of
Paluxysaurus jonesi is planned for the museum; and
WHEREAS, Through the insightful work of Texas-based
scientists, the tracks and bones of the large quadrupedal sauropod
found in the Lone Star State are now clearly known to be those of the
species Paluxysaurus jonesi rather than Pleurocoelus; and
WHEREAS, Given the importance of the paleontological
discoveries that have taken place in Texas, it is indeed
appropriate that the designation of our state dinosaur keep pace
with the latest scientific research; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby designate Paluxysaurus jonesi as the official Lone Star
State Dinosaur, replacing Brachiosaur Sauropod, Pleurocoelus.
Geren
Miller of Erath
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 16 was adopted by the House on April
30, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 132, Nays 1, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 16 was adopted by the Senate on May
26, 2009, by a viva-voce vote.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor