The College of Charleston’s Natural History Museum will host three museum specialists from the Smithsonian Institute’s Museum of Natural History Department of Paleobiology on November 1, 2011.

The public is invited to attend the free forum and fossil identification session from 1-4 p.m. in the Museum.

Experts in terrestrial and marine mammals, as well as sharks and other fish, they will be available for identification of vertebrate fossils. The public is also invite to bring  “finds” they may have around the house for identification.

David Bohaska, a specialist on marine mammals, will give a lecture entitled “Evolution of Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises” starting at 2:30p.m.   He will discuss their ancestry, the major groups of whales (ancient, toothed, and baleen), and provide examples of diversity in the fossil record.

Also on site for fossil identification will be Fred Grady (terrestrial mammal fossil specialist) and Robert Purdy (fossil sharks and fish).

The College of Charleston’s Natural History Museum is located at 202 Calhoun Street.