Fossil evidence of dinosaurs: a contribution to the history of paleontology in Central America

Abstract

Geological and palaeontological researches carried out in Central America since the year 2012 have generated an important discussion on the subject of the geological process that gave origin to Central America and consequently to the connection between North America and South America, which affects from the biological point of view several important theories. At the end of the year 2015, a research was unveiled in academic circles of Honduras regarding the only Central American dinosaur fossil discovered in Honduras in 1971. Based on this information, a comprehensive bibliographical review was conducted with the objective of documenting historical reports of fossils associated with dinosaur ecosystems in Honduras. The documentary review was carried out in national libraries, the National Archive of Honduras, virtual libraries and databases of online collections of museums of the United States, interchange of electronic mail and collection of oral testimonies in localities in the country. Among the relevant findings was a records of Jurassic flora in Honduras and one historical report of a possible dinosaur fossil. Due to the scientific relevance of the confirmation of this dinosaur fossil in Honduras, it could be considered as one of the most important fossil records in Central America.

Revista Ciencia y Tecnología No.20, junio 2017; 29-49