The Bone Wars: Cope vs. Marsh in Paleontology

Who were the main figures in the Bone Wars?

Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh

What was Edward Drinker Cope's background?

He was a Quaker, a talented artist, and a precocious young naturalist from a Philadelphia shipping family.

What significant position did Cope hold at age 31?

He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences.

What notable dinosaur did Cope discover and name?

He named a dinosaur Laelaps aquilunguis, now known as Dryosaurus.

What was the significance of the year 1871 for Cope?

Cope went west for research, following his rival Marsh, who had gone west in 1870.

What was Othniel Charles Marsh's relationship with Col. Ezekiel Jewett?

Jewett was an amateur naturalist and mentor to Marsh.

What was Marsh's first published fossil vertebrate description?

Fosaurus acadiensis, which he mistakenly thought was an ichthyosaur.

What did Marsh do with his uncle's inheritance?

He used it to build a mansion by Yale and fund his paleontological work.

What was the outcome of the Ft. Bridger Debacle in 1872?

Both Cope and Marsh collected fossils there, leading to a dispute over naming rights.

What was the First Jurassic Dinosaur Rush?

A period in 1877 when significant fossil discoveries were made near Morrison, Colorado.

How did Cope and Marsh's feud escalate?

Cope accused Marsh of diverting fossils to Yale, and Marsh criticized Cope's reconstruction of Elasmosaurus.

What was the significance of the Peabody Museum of Natural History?

It was funded by George Peabody and became a center for Marsh's paleontological work.

What role did Barnum Brown play in the Bone Wars?

He was a collector who worked for AMNH and was interested in dinosaur fossils.

What was the impact of the second Jurassic dinosaur rush?

It led to increased competition and discoveries in paleontology, with both Cope and Marsh dying shortly after.

What were the characteristics of American Sauropods according to Marsh?

They were enormous, with long necks, tiny heads, long thin tails, and elephantine limbs.

What was the significance of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History?

Founded by Andrew Carnegie, it became a major institution for paleontological research.

Who was H.F. Osborn?

He was the founder and curator of the department of Vertebrate Paleontology at AMNH in NYC.

What did the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) focus on in the late 19th century?

It focused on dinosaur fossils and collections from expeditions.

What was the relationship between Cope and Marsh's expeditions?

They both competed for fossil discoveries, often leading to conflicts over claims and naming rights.

What was the role of the Male College Scientific expedition of 1870?

It took wealthy students to explore fossil sites in the West.

What was the Cardiff Giant hoax that Marsh exposed?

It was a famous hoax involving a supposed petrified giant, which Marsh helped to debunk.

What was the significance of the monograph on Odontornithes?

It was an important work by Marsh on toothed birds.

What was the outcome of the rivalry between Cope and Marsh?

Marsh became more recognized in paleontology, while Cope was seen as more approachable.

What was the impact of the American history (AMNH) in NYC on paleontology?

It marked a shift towards institutional support for paleontological research.