Natural Heritage Legacy in El Salvador « El Salvador Travel – Sitio Oficial de Turismo de El Salvador:: Official Tourism Web Site of El Salvador

Natural Heritage Legacy in El Salvador

| |

Nowadays, little is discussed of the impressive prehistoric natural remains that have been found in El Salvador.

However in the last 30 years important research has been conducted by national and international organizations that have led to the creation of the Natural History National Deposit run by The Secretary of Culture of the Presidency (SECULTURA) under the classification of “Cultural Heritage”.

This section remains focused on past scientific findings for the moment, since it requires more funds and support start or continue projects such as paleontological excavations at important local sites.

This collection is strictly guarded and it is located adjacent to the facilities of the Museum of Natural History (MUHNES) at Eco-Park Saburo Hirao, a museum that has gathered an important collection that evolved into four categories: Herbarium, Malacology (study of mollusks), Paleontology (with prehistoric vestiges) and Entomology (the studies of insects).

Paleontological Findings in El Salvador

After accidental findings at the municipality of Rio Tomayate, Apopa, San Salvador in 2008, international experts concluded that the site is was “The Pleistocene Era most important migrating route” found in Latin America.” This collection has pieces form this site and from different locations in El Salvador.

Among the most important specimens are:

1.5 million years old Ceiba leaf. This is an emblematic sample of Salvadoran paleontology found in the seventies.

Molar of the four tusks mastodon.

The specimen was collected in the municipality of Corinto, Province of Morazán in the seventies.

It should be noted that this type of mastodon lived in Central America and is “endemic”, or unique to the area.

horse left jaw bone

This specimen collected in 2001 states the presence of horses in America for 3 or 3.5 million years prior European colonization. (however they where extinct long before their arrival). Scientists consider this piece as one of the best examples of the horses in the region.

It was found at Tomayate site at the municipality of Apopa, San Salvador.

molariform of a giant sloth

This type of giant sloth is the ancient relative of today’s anteaters. It was originally from South America and completely vegetarian. It is estimated that the maximum size was 5 to 6 meters.

It was found at Tomayate site at the municipality of Apopa, San Salvador.

mandibular deer bone

Found at Tomayate. According to research this species was very common in Central American territory and lived in forested areas.

Wolf-Hyena Molar

Of the Borophagus Secundus species. This specimen has an 7 million years estimated age. It is presumed that this species has been extinct for 3 million years. It was collected in the municipality of Corinto, province of Morazán. There was also another finding at the Tomayate site, at Apopa.

Wolf-Hyena

Of the Borophagus Hillier species. The estimated age of this specimen is 3.5 million years.

Deer Antlers

It is estimated that this piece is 3.5 million years old. It was found at the Tomayate river site.

horse finger

From the type of the Pliohippus. Collected in the seventies at Canton Calavera, province of Morazán. It is estimated to be over 9 million years old.

unknown gender Frog

Caught in a diatomite rock, it is estimated to be between 900,000 and 1.5 million years old. It was discovered in the seventies by Stephen Perrigo, at El Sisimico Canyon in the province of San Vicente.

Leaf Imprint

Material preserved in diatomite rock, this is a product of mummification formed by the corpuscles of gas. Is estimated to be between 900 thousand and 1.5 million years old. It was found in the “Barranca de Sisimico”, province of San Vicente.

Fish in diatomite rock

Same as above, this fish fossil is between 900,000 and 1.5 million years old. It was preserved due to the lack of lack of oxygen and collected at Sisimico Canyon, San Vicente.

Crab

This specimen was preserved in limestone material on a site that is estimated to have been a coral atoll where vertebrates and invertebrates animals lived. The estimated age is between 9 and 11 million years. It was collected at El Chapernalito, province of La Unión.

Ammonite

Found at the northern region of El Salvador, from Metapán to Chalatenango. Were common during the time of dinosaurs and became extinct with them. According to researchers their size could have been the equivalent of a tire of a truck.

part of a horse’s jaw

Was found at Sálamo, Morazán by Stephen Perrigo.

Milk Molar of a short-faced bear

This piece is very valuable to science. It was found at the Tomayate site in Apopa. Its estimated age is between 3.5 and 3 million years. This was the first finding in Central America of a molar with those characteristics. There are only two recorded worldwide: One in the United States and one in England.

How to get there:

Address: Barrio San Jacinto, end of Los Viveros St, Colonia Nicaragua, San Salvador. Near the National Zoo and the National Institute of Childhood and Adolescence.

Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=es&q=Mapa+a+Saburo+Hirao&bav=on.2, or.r_gc.r_pw. & Um = 1 & ie = UTF-8 & sa = N & tab = wl

Bus Routes:

Route 2 (National Zoo and San Jacinto), Route 12 and 11B minibuses. Fares from US$ 0.25.

More

Contact phone: (503) 2270-9228 / (503) 2270-1387

Hours: Wednesdays to Sundays: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (no lunch break).

Admission:

- General US$ 0.60

- Children under 7 years and elderly: FREE

Parking: US$ 1.00

Website:

http://www.cultura.gob.sv/temas/museos/museo-de-historia-natural-saburo-hirao.html