Kristopher Super

Kristopher Super: Director of Paleontology & Head Fossil Preparator

On his 25th birthday in March 2021, Kristopher Super made one of the most significant Kansas fossil finds in recent memory: a remarkably complete elasmosaurid plesiosaur, featuring only the second skull of its kind ever found in the state.

Today, as the Manager of the Western Kansas Fossil Lab, Kris leads the painstaking preparation of this rare marine reptile, inviting the public to see the prehistoric history of the Western Interior Seaway come to life.

Kris’s career is fueled by a drive for the "next big find" and a lifelong obsession with Kansas’s fossil heritage. By high school, he was already a fixture in the Smoky Hill Chalk, spending weekends scouting the exposures that would eventually yield his most famous discoveries. This "boots-on-the-ground" foundation, paired with academic rigor, defines his approach to paleontology today:

A Landmark Find:

In 2014 as an undergraduate at Fort Hays State University, Kris discovered the most complete example of the rare toothed bird Ichthyornis dispar. This specimen provided critical evidence for how the modern avian beak and brain evolved, answering long-standing evolutionary questions and earning a feature in the prestigious journal Nature.

Academic Foundation:

He holds a B.S. in Geology and a Master’s in Education from FHSU. His academic foundation combines rigorous scientific training with a talent for translating complex paleontology into stories that resonate with the public.

Expedition Leadership & Research:

Kris has a proven track record of managing large-scale field operations and contributing to premier research collections. In 2018, he led an extensive effort to recover over 30 high-quality vertebrate specimens from the Smoky Hill Chalk for the University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology, while simultaneously training university students in specialized Kansas field methods. His expertise extends to the world-famous Hell Creek Formation in Montana, where he discovered a rare theropod specimen for the KU Natural History Museum that continues to serve as a key piece of evidence in the ongoing Nanotyrannus vs. T. rex debate 

Education Roots:

Following in his father’s footsteps, Kris taught Physics, Chemistry, and Earth Science at Scott Community High School from 2020 to 2024. He frequently integrated his field experience into the classroom through "Fossil Fridays" and local field trips, using the nearby Smoky Hill Chalk to give his students a practical connection to the science in their own backyard.

Now based at the El Quartelejo Museum, Kris is dedicated to uncovering the stories hidden within the Kansas landscape. Whether he is prepping a massive chalk block or hosting a community Fossil Talk, his mission is to ensure the world knows the incredible prehistoric legacy of western Kansas.