Abstract

The history of the backboned animals is very incompletely documented by the fossil record in Alberta. Yet in point of time encompassed, the Alberta record provides more glimpses of this history than does that of any other province.

Palaeozoic vertebrates in Alberta consist of a handful of fish remains from Devonian and Mississippian rocks. Because of the absence of genetically appropriate sediments, chances of finding terrestrial Palaeozoic vertebrates in Alberta are not good, but additional marine fossils can be expected.

Except for the late Cretaceous dinosaur faunas, without parallel elsewhere in the world, much the same must be said for the Mesozoic vertebrate records. The possibility of amplifying the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous records exists in the southwestern part of the province.

Paleocene vertebrates are known from several localities; specimens consist of a few tiny mammal teeth, scraps of fish, reptiles, and an amphibian. There is but one bone attributable to a post Paleocene Tertiary vertebrate from Alberta. The probability of expanding the later Tertiary record is virtually nil, owing to absence of sedimentary deposits of appropriate age and consistency.

Quaternary fossils occur, but as yet are poorly known. Prospects for improving this situation are moderately good, however.