Oceans of Kansas (book)

Oceans of Kansas is a 2005 popular science book by paleontologist Michael J. Everhart, published by Indiana University Press. The book chronicles the paleontology of the Western Interior Seaway, a large inland sea that existed during the Late Cretaceous period (approximately 100 to 66 million years ago) and covered much of central North America, including the present-day state of Kansas.

The book focuses on the remarkable fossil discoveries made in the Smoky Hill Chalk Member of the Niobrara Formation, a geological formation located in western Kansas. This formation is exceptionally rich in well-preserved fossils of marine reptiles (such as mosasaurs and plesiosaurs), toothed birds, sharks, bony fishes, and invertebrates that thrived in the seaway.

Oceans of Kansas details the history of paleontological exploration in the region, highlighting the contributions of early fossil hunters like Benjamin Franklin Mudge, Samuel Wendell Williston, and Charles H. Sternberg and his family. It also discusses the scientific significance of the fossils found in the Smoky Hill Chalk, providing insights into the evolution, ecology, and extinction patterns of Cretaceous marine life. The book aims to make complex scientific information accessible to a general audience, combining scientific accuracy with engaging storytelling. It is considered a valuable resource for understanding the paleontology of the Western Interior Seaway and the history of paleontology in the American West.