description James I. Kirkland Overview
James I. Kirkland is an American paleontologist who serves as the Utah state paleontologist with the Utah Geological Survey. His research focuses primarily on dinosaurs and other fossils from the Mesozoic Era, especially the Early Cretaceous of the western United States. He co-named Utahraptor in 1993 and has also contributed to the description of several other dinosaur genera discovered in Utah.
help James I. Kirkland FAQ
What dinosaurs has James I. Kirkland discovered or named?
He co-named Utahraptor in 1993, one of the largest known dromaeosaur 'raptors,' as well as the armored ankylosaur Gastonia in 1998. He also co-described the horned dinosaur Diabloceratops in 2018 from Grand Staircase–Escalante material.
What is James Kirkland's official role in Utah?
He serves as the Utah State Paleontologist with the Utah Geological Survey, a position that makes him the lead guardian of the state's fossil resources. In that role he has spent decades mapping and protecting dinosaur sites across Utah.
Which rock formation does Kirkland's research focus on?
His signature work centers on the Cedar Mountain Formation of eastern Utah, which preserves a rich record of Early Cretaceous dinosaurs. Fossils from this formation include Utahraptor, Gastonia, and many other species he helped bring to light.
Was Utahraptor's discovery connected to Jurassic Park?
Amusingly, yes — Utahraptor was named in 1993, the same year Jurassic Park premiered, and its discovery made headlines because it approached the oversized 'Velociraptors' depicted in the film. Kirkland has often recounted how real science briefly caught up with Hollywood fiction.
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