Los Banos Rotary Club History
Biology teacher proves it's all in the head

By Greg Garrison

Skulls can tell a person everything from what a creature eats to when it sleeps, Merced College biology instructor, Dr. Brenda Latham, Ph.D. told the Los Baños Rotary Club during a presentation at the group's lunch meeting Tuesday.

Skeletal remains of baboons, coyotes and snakes were passed around the banquet tables like potato salad at the weekly gathering held at España's Restaurant as Latham pointed out peculiarities of each one.

Latham, who recently returned from a dinosaur dig in Wyoming, is an expert on skulls and skeletons and speaks regularly on the subject. She has taught college courses in biology, astronomy and geology since 1997.

She said her audiences always seem to be most interested in the same three skulls.
"They all love the baboon and giraffe," Latham said. "And the grizzly, or course."
Many of the skulls including the three Latham says are most popular, have been donated over the years by Ernie Lindo, a local man who collects them from hunting trips. Latham says Lindo's collection became so large he ran out of storage room.

During the presentation, which lasted about a half hour, Latham explained what different skeletal features found on the skull can indicate. For example, if an animal has eye sockets that are pointed forward, it is most likely a predatory creature, whereas if its eye sockets are aimed to the sides, it is probably a defensive animal.

Latham said she does not know when she first started to gain an interest in biology.
"I've always wanted to know how things worked," She said.

Latham said the recent dinosaur dig is one of the highlights of her scientific travels.
"A lot of people don't know it, but the United States is a really good storer of dinosaur track ways and remains," She said.

Latham said she hopes to add to the growing collection in the future. At the top of the list are large herbivores. She said she is in the market for a new cow skull to replace the current one, which is not in great condition. She said she will probably get one from a local ranch.

"It would be nice to have one of those. Texas longhorns though, wouldn't it?" She said.

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