CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Tropical reptiles, “modern” dinosaurs, ancient exhibits and educational programs awaited Cheyenne residents Saturday for the Wyoming State Museum’s “Dino Day.”
The museum teamed up with the Wyoming State Geological Survey, University of Wyoming’s Geological Museum and Fossil Butte National Monument to introduce children and parents to reptilians, birds and the fossilized remains of long-gone species. Families could also escape the heat and work on dino-themed arts and crafts inside the museum.
Pet store Northmen Exotics introduced attendees to snakes and a 30-pound tegu. The store also supplied chickens for kids to play with in a petting zoo. The bird is a “modern” dinosaur, according to Sara Sheen, deputy director of Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources. The animals are the closest descendants to dinosaurs and share similar characteristics to raptors, including feathers, sharp claws and scaly legs.
Justin Thornrbugh, curator of education for the Wyoming State Museum, enthralled children in several educational programs. He shared various facts about dinosaur species like the T-Rex, stegosaurus and ankylosaurus.
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Justin Thornrbugh, curator of education for the Wyoming State Museum, holds a triceratops horn during an educational demonstration Saturday, July 13 at the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne. Thornbrugh taught kids and parents about various ancient species such as the tyrannosaurus, apatosaurus, stegosaurus and ankylosaurus. (Jared Gendron/Cap City News) Justin Thornrbugh, curator of education for the Wyoming State Museum, holds a triceratops horn during an educational demonstration Saturday, July 13 at the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne. Thornbrugh taught kids and parents about various ancient species such as the tyrannosaurus, apatosaurus, stegosaurus and ankylosaurus. (Jared Gendron/Cap City News)A full-body exhibit of a triceratops is shown Saturday, July 13 at the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne. (Jared Gendron/Cap City News)Katie Clark with Northmen Exotics shows a red-tailed boa to visitors Saturday, July 13 at the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne. The creature is native to the tropics of Africa and South America. (Jared Gendron/Cap City News)An Argentine black and white tegu paces on the floor Saturday, July 13 at the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne. The animal is an “opportunistic” eater, according to according to Brian Junglen with Northmen Exotics. (Jared Gendron/Cap City News)A young girl examines chickens at the petting zoo setup Saturday, July 13 at the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne. Chickens are the closest modern ancestors to ancient dinosaurs, according to Sara Sheen, deputy director of Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources. The birds have adopted many characteristics of raptors, including feathers, sharp claws and scaly legs. (Jared Gendron/Cap City News)A large fossil belonging to the phareodus genus of fish is plastered to a rocky surface Saturday, July 13 at the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne. According to physical scientist Chris Pacay with Fossil Butte National Monument, the fish lived 50-52 million years ago. The aquatic creature’s skull exploded due to gas buildup. (Jared Gendron/Cap City News)Families work on dino-themed arts and crafts during “Dino Day” on Saturday, July 13 at the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne. (Jared Gendron/Cap City News)The bones of a camptosaurus are on display Saturday, July 13 at the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne. (Jared Gendron/Cap City News)Brian Junglen with Northmen Exotics holds up a red-tailed boa Saturday, July 13 at the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne. The snake is around five feet long. (Jared Gendron/Cap City News)The red-tailed boa gets close for a picture Saturday, July 13 at the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne. (Jared Gendron/Cap City News)Blue poles depicting the height of various dinosaurs are mounted into the grass Saturday, July 13 at the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne. From left to right, the height of the poles represent the tyrannosaurus, stegosaurus, allosaurus, diplodocus and apatosaurus. (Jared Gendron/Cap City News)A skull belonging to an allosaurus is shown inside a glass display Saturday, July 13 at the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne. (Jared Gendron/Cap City News)A ball python, which is native to Africa, is shown Saturday, July 13 at the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne. (Jared Gendron/Cap City News)A fossil of an ancient fish appears on a mineral slab Saturday, July 13 at the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne. (Jared Gendron/Cap City News)An Argentine black and white tegu crawls on the floor Saturday, July 13 at the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne. The animal is an omnivore and eats from a mix of fruits and different sources of protein, according to Brian Junglen with Northmen Exotics. (Jared Gendron/Cap City News)
