Don Reid is an authority on the Joggins Fossil Cliffs. He is also an entrepreneur, who opened the Joggins Fossil Museum and Gift Shop ( photo above ) in 1989. From an early age, he has tramped the beaches in and around Joggins, from Lower Cove all the way through the McCarrons Bridge area, searching for fossils. Perhaps his most notable find is an impression of a large flying insect from the Carboniferous age, 350 MYA. ( Photo Below)

Flying Insect ( Megasecoptera )

This flying insect, or "Megasecoptera", had a wingspan of 11 cm and looked like a dragonfly. To date, there has been no other discovery to match it.

Don with Amphibian Print	Don with "Stigmaria"

Every age has had its predators, and the Carboniferous period was no exception. Don is holding a print of one such animal in the above photos. It was the largest animal of the period, reaching lengths of six to eight feet. The bones of this animal are the most rare of any fossil found in the Joggins area.

Fossil Centre	Fossil Centre

The most common fossils found at the Joggins Fossil Cliffs are those of plants. Among these specimens, the most prevalent is "Stigmaria" like seen in the right hand picture. Also a common plant fossil is the bark of trees which are seen in the left hand photo.

Don with daughter Gloria Melanson and great-granddaughter Katelyn Melanson.

The Joggins Fossil Museum and Gift Shop is a family affair. Working with Don is his daughter Gloria, and keeping them company is his great-granddaughter Katelyn. They are standing in front of a table laden with every plant specimen imaginable from the Carboniferous age. Included are lycopods; both "Sigillaria" and "Lepidodendron", "Calamites", "Stigmaria", and "Ferns".

Katelyn Viewing Microscopic Specimens of Teeth

Some fossils are too small to be seen by the naked eye. In the above photo, Katelyn is viewing the teeth of a small amphibian, reptile, or fish under the microscope.