“Prehistoric Pets” – New Book Links Pets with Their Ancestors
A new book is due to be published shortly entitled “Prehistoric Pets”. It has been written by the very talented palaeontologist Dr Dean Lomax, with illustrations by Mike Love. This exciting forthcoming publication links pets with their prehistoric ancestors, helping to bridge a gap in children’s understanding about fossils and deep geological time.
The Front Cover of “Prehistoric Pets” by Dr Dean Lomax with Illustrations by Mike Love
This colourful and well-written book takes the reader on a journey back in time, linking common household pets today with their prehistoric ancestors. If you have ever wondered about the ancestors of cats, dogs and guinea pigs, then this exciting new publication will provide the answers.
Picture credit: Templar Books/Everything Dinosaur
Highly Informative, Fact Filled and Humorous
Dr Dean Lomax is one of a very select number of academics who have the ability to communicate complex ideas in simple terms so that general readers can comprehend. The book is crammed full of fascinating facts and snippets of information that children will relish. Beautifully designed pop-ups feature amazing prehistoric creatures, animals such as the tiny Sifrhippus (siff-rip-uss), the oldest known ancestor of the modern horse. A cat-sized creature that roamed Wyoming during the Eocene Epoch.
“Prehistoric Pets” – Tracing the Ancestry of the Modern Horse
One of the beautiful animal illustrations from the book “Prehistoric Pets” by Dr Dean Lomax (illustrated by Mike Love).
Picture credit: Templar Books/Everything Dinosaur
“Prehistoric Pets” is an Awesome Book
This awesome book is due to be published next month (October 2020), it will make an ideal Christmas gift for a young palaeontologist.
When this book is available, Everything Dinosaur will be writing a review of “Prehistoric Pets”.
Well-written and Cleverly Designed – A Great Christmas Gift Idea “Prehistoric Pets”
Brilliant bird facts in the awesome new book written by Dr Dean Lomax and illustrated by Mike Love. The book contains lots of amazing information and facts. Written in a humorous style, “Prehistoric Pets” takes the reader on a journey back in time, linking familiar pets alive today with their prehistoric ancestors.
Picture credit: Templar Books/Everything Dinosaur
For advice and further recommendations about dinosaur/prehistoric animal books aimed at young readers: Email Everything Dinosaur.
As Everything Dinosaur team members prepare for the arrival of the new for 2020 Papo Stygimoloch dinosaur model, team members have been examining the scientific papers that led to the erection of this pachycephalosaur genus (Peter Galton and Hans-Dieter Sues in 1983).
An isolated fossil bone referred to as a left squamosal (a bone from the back part of the skull) was found in Hell Creek Formation deposits located in McCone County, eastern Montana. This fossil bone was given the catalogue number UCMP 119433 and although its prominent horns and raised bony bumps were very distinctive, it was not formerly described until 1983. This fossil bone became the holotype fossil for the new species of North American pachycephalosaur Stygimoloch spinifer.
Stygimoloch spinifer
Distinctive Squamosal Bones Attributed to S. spinifer
The holotype left squamosal (UCMP 119433) in (A) and a right squamosal (UCMP 131163) in (B) in posterior view. Note scale bar equals 5 cm.
Picture credit: Horner and Goodwin (published in PLOS One)
The picture (above), shows the holotype left squamosal (UCMP 119433) alongside a right squamosal which also comes from the Hell Creek Formation of Montana (UCMP 131163). When first described, the flat-headed, narrow skull of Stygimoloch with its array of horns and bumps that were most prominent at the back of the skull, was thought to represent a different type of pachycephalosaur than the dome-skulled species such as Pachycephalosaurus wyomingensis.
Extremely Scrappy Fossil Remains
Stygimoloch had been described from extremely scrappy fossil remains. Although a more complete skull found in North Dakota was also assigned to this genus, Stygimoloch remained poorly known.
The New for 2020 Papo Stygimoloch Dinosaur Model
A view of one of the production prototypes of the Papo Stygimoloch dinosaur model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Stygimoloch spinifer is Probably a Subadult Pachycephalosaurus
A paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology in 2007 challenged the validity of the Stygimoloch taxon. Palaeontologists John (Jack) Horner of the Museum of the Rockies, Montana State University and Mark Goodwin of the Museum of Paleontology at the University of California, Berkeley published a paper in the on-line, peer reviewed journal PLOS One (2009), that proposed that both Dracorex hogwartsia and Stygimoloch spinifer represented younger individuals of the Pachycephalosaurus wyomingensis species.
More recent fossil discoveries from the Hell Creek Formation and further analysis of existing pachycephalosaur fossil material from North America supports the idea that Dracorex hogwartsia, Stygimoloch spinifer and Pachycephalosaurus wyomingensis are the same taxon.
Pachycephalosaur Ontogeny – Three Hell Creek Formation Taxa May Actually Represent Just One Taxon
It has been proposed that the cranial ornamentation and skull shape of pachycephalosaurs changes as these animals grow and mature. This can cause confusion when trying to identify species.
Picture credit: Kari Scannella with additional annotation by Everything Dinosaur
When first described, (Galton and Sues), the suggested morphology of the skull of Stygimoloch (narrow and lacking a raised, thickened dome), led the researchers to propose that unlike other pachycephalosaurs Stygimoloch probably did not indulge in any head-butting behaviour.
To view the range of Papo figures in stock at Everything Dinosaur, including a Pachycephalosaurus figure (whilst stocks last): Papo Models and Figures.
The 2009 scientific paper: “Extreme Cranial Ontogeny in the Upper Cretaceous Dinosaur Pachycephalosaurus” by John R Horner and Mark B Goodwin published in PLOS One.
The return to school for the start of the autumn term has been very strange for many children. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, some pupils in the UK have not been in school since March. This term is likely to very different for children, teachers and teaching assistants alike. Everything Dinosaur has seen sales of its dinosaur-themed water bottle surge as parents, grandparents, guardians and carers prepared for the start of the new school year. Children are encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottles and our tough, robust, dishwasher safe, plastic dinosaur water bottle with its large 500 millilitre capacity, has proved to be very popular with young dinosaur fans.
A Dinosaur Water Bottle
The Dinosaur Themed Water Bottle from Everything Dinosaur
The plastic dinosaur drinking bottle available from Everything Dinosaur (whilst stocks last).Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
The plastic water bottle is ideal for school. It is dishwater safe and very sturdy. The bottle has a large screw-on lid making it easy for little ones to top up and a secure flip cap top to permit no-spill drinking. Just what a budding, young palaeontologist needs to quench their thirst. The colourful dinosaur design in the front features a trio of dinosaurs, a Tyrannosaurus rex, a long-necked, plant-eating dinosaur with some prehistoric plants and trees to munch and a fabulous Triceratops. There are even a couple of terrific pterosaurs to keep the dinosaurs company.
A Colourful Triceratops Features on the Front of the Dinosaur Water Bottle
A colourful Triceratops adorns the dinosaur water bottle.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Diswasher Safe
The water bottle has been made from BPA-free plastic (free from bisphenol A or any other bisphenol compounds. It is impact resistant and exceptionally tough, helping to extend the useful life of water bottles, potentially reducing plastic waste. This product has exceptional dishwasher durability, encouraging proper sanitation and helping to keep plastic surfaces clean and free from bacteria and viruses. With a substantial 500 ml capacity the bottle is big enough to provide plenty of refreshment, but it is lighter than glass, making it easier to handle for small hands without the fear of breaking.
By using this refillable bottle, you have will have helped to reduce the plastic pollution threat to oceans.
At just £4.16 plus tax (if applicable) and postage, this colourful dinosaur themed drinking vessel makes a welcome addition to a young person’s rucksack or school bag. Prices accurate on date of publication (September 2020).
Prehistoric animal model collectors have been eager to get their hands on the new for 2020 CollectA Deluxe Lisowicia bojani, dicynodont model. Everything Dinosaur team members are busy creating a short video review of the model entitled “Dynamic Dicynodonts”. Our YouTube video aims to showcase the CollectA 1:20 scale figure and to discuss dicynodonts in general. Ironically, in the Late Triassic there was a predator that the elephant-sized Lisowicia might have feared.
The bonebed in southern Poland has revealed the presence of a five-metre plus archosaurian carnivore. A powerful animal scientifically described in 2011, the meat-eater has been named Smok wawelski and although a fully grown Lisowicia was probably invulnerable to attack, Smok would have been capable of bringing down juvenile or sick individuals, as Smok is the largest terrestrial predator known from the Late Triassic of central Europe.
Dangerous Company for Lisowicia bojani – Smok wawelski
A skeletal reconstruction of Smok wawelski (known bones in white) along with views of key elements from the fossil remains. Although originally believed to be a theropod dinosaur related to the Allosauroidea, Smok wawelski could be a member of the crocodile lineage of the Archosauria.
The CollectA Deluxe Lisowicia bojani
The CollectA Deluxe Lisowicia bojani Dicynodont Model
The ruler helps to show the size of the CollectA Lisowicia model. The Lisowicia replica measures around 19 cm long and the model has an articulated lower jaw. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Smok had a skull which was more than half a metre in length. It was the apex predator of a diverse biota revealed by the clay pit fossils found close to the village of Lisowice in Silesia, southern Poland. The first evidence of this large animal, consisting of cranial material was discovered in 2007, based on these fossils it was assigned to the Theropoda.
The braincase was similar to that seen in allosaurs, hence the classification. However, more recent fossil discoveries have thrown doubts upon this taxonomic assessment. It may not belong to the dinosaur/bird lineage of the Archosauria at all, Smok could be a member of the Rauisuchidae, a globally diverse family of archosaurs from the crocodile branch of the Archosauria.
Femur Bone Comparison Smok wawelski Compared to a Theropod (Liliensternus) and a Rauisuchid (Postosuchus)
The femur of S. wawelski is compared to femori representing two other archosaurs, one from the Theropoda (Liliensternus) and a femur from the rauisuchid Postosuchus. When first described Smok wawelski was thought to be a theropod but further fossil discoveries led to its placement within the Archosauria becoming more uncertain.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Once completed Everything Dinosaur’s video review of Lisowicia bojani and the information on Smok wawelski will be posted up on the company’s YouTube channel. Click here to visit Everything Dinosaur on YouTube: Everything Dinosaur on YouTube.
A new species of basal neoceratopsian has been described from fossils found near the town of Barunnbayan in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. The little dinosaur, which was probably less than a metre long, has been named Beg tse in honour of the Himalayan deity Beg-tse. In Mongolian culture, prior to the spread of Buddhism, Beg-tse was a god of war, often depicted as heavily armoured with large, roughened patches on its body. The researchers studying the fossil material noted that, like other members of the Neoceratopsia, Beg had rugosities (roughened areas), on its skull, notably on the jugal and the surangular.
Beg tse – A Newly Described Dinosaur
The Compressed Skull of Beg tse with an Accompanying Line Drawing
Lateral view of the holotype skull of Beg tse with line drawing. The compressed skull measures 14 cm in length approximately.
Picture credit: Yu et al (Nature)
The Most Basal Neoceratopsian Described to Date
The only known specimen of Beg tse (specimen reference: IGM 100/3652), was discovered by a joint American Museum of Nature/Mongolian Academy of Sciences expedition in 2015. The fossils probably represent a single individual and consist of an articulated partial skull along with postcranial elements consisting of a fragmentary right ischium, a partial left scapula, one rib bone and numerous bone fragments.
A phylogenetic analysis conducted by the scientists, which included Dr Mark Norell (American Museum of Natural History), indicates that Beg is the most basal neoceratopsian dinosaur known to date and is more derived than both the Psittacosauridae and Jurassic Chaoyangsauridae.
A Speculative Life Reconstruction of the Basal Neoceratopsian Beg tse
A speculative life reconstruction of the basal neoceratopsian Beg tse. The illustration has been based on the neoceratopsian Liaoceratops yanzigouensis from north-eastern China.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Proving Difficult to Date
It is difficult to estimate the date of the fossil bearing strata for many of the Gobi Desert dig sites due to the lack of detailed geological mapping and the limited number of sediments suitable for radiometric dating. The sandstone dominated deposit has been dated to between 113 – 94 million years ago, with a most probable date of circa 100 million years ago. As a result, the researchers conclude that Beg dates from the latest Early Cretaceous or the earliest Late Cretaceous.
The Ceratopsia may have originated around the Middle Jurassic, but the skull of Beg tse exhibits a combination of primitive and more derived traits which suggests that the basic ceratopsian bodyplan persisted until at least the Early-Late Cretaceous boundary. Beg along with other Asian neoceratopsians such as Auroraceratops and Mosaiceratops represent transitional forms between basal ceratopsians and more derived forms. With a wide geographical range from South Korea, China and Mongolia and a long time span from the Aptian to possibly the Campanian, the early evolutionary history of the horned dinosaurs is probably much more complex than previously thought.
The scientific paper: “A neoceratopsian dinosaur from the early Cretaceous of Mongolia and the early evolution of the ceratopsia” by Congyu Yu, Albert Prieto-Marquez, Tsogtbaatar Chinzorig, Zorigt Badamkhatan and Mark Norell published in Nature (Communications Biology).
New Papo Models Feature in an Everything Dinosaur Newsletter
New Papo models feature in the Everything Dinosaur early September newsletter including the controversial Papo Giganotosaurus dinosaur model. The Papo Giganotosaurus is very well made and distinctly Papo, however, its anatomically inaccurate stance and unusual body proportions have led to criticism from some prehistoric animal model collectors. This substantial dinosaur model has certainly divided opinions. Some collectors might regard it as a throwback to much earlier dinosaur sculpts but there is no denying the quality of the finish and the excellent detailing, especially those carefully created skin folds and scales.
New Papo Models
The Papo Giganotosaurus Dinosaur Model Features in the Everything Dinosaur Newsletter
The new for 2020 Papo Giganotosaurus dinosaur model headlines the latest Everything Dinosaur customer newsletter.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Papo Chilesaurus and the New Colour Variant Papo Parasaurolophus
Such has been the excitement and controversy over the introduction of the Papo Giganotosaurus dinosaur model, that the other recently introduced Papo models have been somewhat overlooked by dinosaur model fans and collectors. However, Everything Dinosaur team members were eager to make amends and include the Papo Chilesaurus and the new colour variant of the Papo Parasaurolophus model in the company’s newsletter too.
Making Waves of Their Own (Papo Chilesaurus and the Papo Parasaurolophus Models)
The new for 2020 Papo Chilesaurus and the recently introduced Papo Parasaurolophus colour variant feature in the latest edition of the Everything Dinosaur company newsletter.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
To pick up a new for 2020 Papo Giganotosaurus or any of the other Papo prehistoric animal models including the Parasaurolophus and the Chilesaurus: Papo Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animal Models.
A Popular Postosuchus and a Rare Bullyland Ichthyosaur
Everything Dinosaur had received a number of enquiries about the popular, recently introduced Schleich Postosuchus figure. More stock of this replica of a Late Triassic predator had recently arrived and team members were keen to communicate this information to our subscribers. In addition, there were just a few of the very rare and now out of production Bullyland Ichthyosaurus models still available.
This Ichthyosaurus figure had been officially retired around seven years ago, it was first omitted from the Bullyland brochure back in 2013. We know how collectors like to acquire rare models, so we included a mention of the Bullyland Ichthyosaurus in our newsletter, helping our customers to avoid paying exorbitant prices for the same figure on auction sites.
Promoting a Popular Postosuchus and a Rare Bullyland Ichthyosaur
The popular Schleich Postosuchus model is back in stock and there are a few limited edition Bullyland Ichthyosaurus models still available.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
To request to be added to the Everything Dinosaur newsletter subscribers list, just simply send us an email: Email Everything Dinosaur.
At Everything Dinosaur, we get lots of enquiries and questions emailed to us. For example, we recently received an query about Panthalassa, the sender had heard the name but was not sure what this referred to, other than that it had something to do with ancient life. Panthalassa is the name of the huge, super-ocean that was created with the convergence of the world’s landmasses into a single block, known as Pangaea (sometimes also referred to as Pangea).
The Panthalassa Ocean
Panthalassa was formed in the Late Palaeozoic Era it persisted for much of the Mesozoic. It was sub-divided in the Late Triassic into Pacific and Atlantic regions as the geological process of rifting led to the formation of the Atlantic Ocean Basin.
A Map Showing the Approximate Location of Pangaea and the Surrounding Panthalassa Ocean (circa 200 mya)
The location of the super-ocean Panthalassa around 200 million years ago.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
An Enormous Body of Water
The Panthalassa Ocean at its largest size covered more than 70% of the entire planet’s surface. The term “Panthalassa” is derived from the Greek and means “all sea”. This enormous body of water was so vast, that if you had observed our planet from certain viewpoints in outer space, no trace of any land on planet “Earth” could be observed.
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
” We get contacted by all sorts of people asking all kinds of questions, students at university, pupils at school, parents contacting us on behalf of a curious child who has asked a question which they themselves have been unable to answer and we do our best to respond to all the queries that we receive. It might take a while for our team members to reply, but we do genuinely, try to help as many people as we can.”
Hopefully, the information we provided on Panthalassa will permit smooth sailing for the emailer when it comes to looking at prehistoric oceans from now on.
Changmiania liaoningensis A New Basal Ornithopod from Liaoning Province
A new species of basal ornithopod dinosaur has been named and described from Liaoning Province in north-eastern China. The dinosaur has been named Changmiania liaoningensis which translates from the Chinese as “eternal sleeper from Liaoning”. The researchers which include Pascal Godefroit of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences and Paul-Emile Dieudonné (Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Argentina), in collaboration with colleagues from Jilin University and Shenyang Normal University (China), postulate that Changmiania lived in burrows.
The Holotype of Changmiania liaoningensis (PMOL AD00114) and a Life Reconstruction
The perfectly preserved holotype fossil of Changmiania liaoningensis with a life reconstruction. The very nearly intact, articulated specimens suggest that the dinosaurs were entombed in their burrows during a volcanic eruption.
Picture credit: Carine Ciselet
From the Lujiatun Beds of the Yixian Formation
The pair of beautifully preserved fossils, like so many vertebrate fossils from this part of the world were acquired from farmers. Many locals supplement their incomes by finding and excavating specimens. Whilst welcoming the opportunity to be able to study the material, palaeontologists are often frustrated by the lack of information available to them pertaining to the fossil’s location and how it was preserved (taphonomy). However, it is thought that the fossils herald from the Lujiatun Beds (Yixian Formation) of western Liaoning Province.
These three-dimensional fossils were formed when these dinosaurs were entombed in pyroclastic material created by a volcanic eruption. Numerous dinosaurs are known from the Lujiatun Beds including the dromaeosaurid Graciliraptor (G. lujiatunensis), the troodontid Mei long, the small tyrannosauroid Dilong paradoxus along with psittacosaurs, neoceratopsians and the ornithopod Jeholosaurus (J. shanyuensis).
Changmiania liaoningensis
Scientists have been able to accurately date the volcanic ash layer to approximately 123 million years ago, which means this diverse dinosaur biota lived during the early Aptian faunal stage of the Early Cretaceous. The hot, volcanic debris that covered these two dinosaurs may have perfectly preserved most of the skeleton but any evidence of an integumentary covering such as feathers was destroyed as these animals met their fate whilst fast asleep in their burrows. The resting dinosaurs having been caught up and consumed in a violent pyroclastic flow is the scenario tentatively proposed by the research team in the scientific paper published in PeerJ.
The Two Fossils of Changmiania liaoningensis
The holotype fossil (A) and a close view of the anterior portion of the holotype (B), with a second referred specimen of Changmiania liaoningensis (C). A small cluster of around a dozen pebbles were found in the stomach cavity (indicated by red arrow). These small stones, ranging in diameter from 5 mm to 13 mm are thought to be gastroliths (stomach stones). They represent the earliest recording of gastroliths in a member of the Ornithopoda.
Picture credit: Yang et al (PeerJ)
A Basal Ornithopod
The little dinosaur measured approximately 1.2 metres long, the tail representing fifty percent of the animal’s total body length. The extremely short neck, consisting of just six cervical vertebrae, the robust forelimbs and stocky shoulder blades suggest that this dinosaur might have dug burrows. This idea is supported by the position of the fossil specimens and the morphology of the front of the skull, which may have assisted with shovelling dirt aside. The long hindlimbs and tail indicate that Changmiania was a fast runner, able to avoid trouble whilst away from its underground den.
This is not the first time fossorial behaviour has been inferred for a dinosaur. For example, in 2007 Everything Dinosaur wrote a short post about another potential burrowing ornithischian, another basal ornithopod that was named Oryctodromeus cubicularis, remains of which come from the sandstones of the Blackleaf Formation of Montana (USA): A Burrowing Dinosaur from Montana.
Changmiania lived at least 10 million years earlier than O. cubicularis. A phylogenetic analysis places Changmiania liaoningensis as the most basal ornithopod dinosaur known to science.
The scientific paper: “A new basal ornithopod dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of China” by Yuqing Yang, Wenhao Wu, Paul-Emile Dieudonné and Pascal Godefroit published in PeerJ.
Everything Dinosaur has received stock of the new, Mojo Fun dinosaur backpack and playscape. This sturdy backpack which folds out to reveal a stunning prehistoric playscape is supplied with two dinosaur models. Only a limited quantity is available and we expect this colourful, dinosaur-themed backpack to prove very popular with young dinosaur fans, especially with Christmas only a few months away.
The New Mojo Fun Combined Dinosaur Backpack and Playscape
The Mojo Fun dinosaur backpack with playscape features two Mojo Fun dinosaurs on the decorative front panel, a T. rex (left) and an Allosaurus (right).
A Dinosaur Playscape Inside
Ideal for creative, imaginative play and suitable for children aged three years and over, this dinosaur backpack once unzipped folds out into a roomy dinosaur-themed prehistoric playscape. Young dinosaur fans can have fun wherever they go and Everything Dinosaur supplies two dinosaur models with the backpack along with a Mojo Fun catalogue, permitting budding junior palaeontologists to explore the other prehistoric animal models and figures available in the Mojo range.
The Mojo Fun Dinosaur Backpack Folds Out to Reveal a Wonderful Prehistoric Landscape
The dinosaur backpack opens up to provide a playscape for dinosaur models. Two dinosaurs are included with the backpack along with a Mojo Fun collector’s catalogue.
The Mojo Fun Dinosaur Backpack has Sturdy Straps
A sturdy handle is located on the top of the backpack and there are two robust straps on the rear making this play set highly portable and easy to carry. The play area is quite substantial, the maximum height of the playscape is 32 cm, the maximum length of the playscape area is a whopping 58 cm, so there is plenty of room for dinosaur models and toys to roam around.
The Mojo Fun Dinosaur Backpack/Playscape has Two Strong and Study Straps
Study straps on the Mojo Fun dinosaur backpack and playscape.
The colourful front panel features two Mojo dinosaur models, a Tyrannosaurus rex and the Mojo Fun Allosaurus. The panel itself is embossed and raised slightly providing a stylish three-dimensional effect.
The Raised and Embossed Front Panel of the Backpack/Playscape
The Mojo Fun dinosaur backpack with playscape has a raised and embossed dinosaur -themed design on the front panel.
A Super Dinosaur Gift
This item would make an ideal Christmas gift and it is superb value at just £16.66 plus tax (if applicable) and postage (price as of September 2020). A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“The Mojo backpack combined with playscape is supplied with two dinosaur models so enthusiastic fans of the Dinosauria can play wherever they go.”
An Ideal Christmas Gift for a Young Dinosaur Fan
Beautifully presented! The Mojo Fun combined backpack and dinosaur themed playscape makes an ideal Christmas gift for young dinosaur fans.
The Mojo Fun dinosaur backpack and playscape combined can be found in the Mojo section of Everything Dinosaur’s website (whilst stocks last): Mojo Fun Prehistoric Animals.
Body Fossils of an Ankylosaurian Dinosaur from British Columbia
A small sandstone block containing the back end of a single, fragmentary dorsal vertebra, a dorsal neural arch and two pieces of rib, probably fossils from one animal, have been identified as the fossilised bones of an armoured dinosaur. This material, originally collected in 1930, is one of just a handful of dinosaur bones known from the early Late Cretaceous of Canada (Cenomanian faunal stage). Although fossilised footprints associated with ankylosaurian dinosaurs are known from the area, these are the earliest reported body fossils from the Dunvegan Formation of British Columbia and as such these bones may provide palaeontologists with a new perspective on the transition of dinosaur biotas into the Late Cretaceous of North America.
Fossil Material Identified as Ankylosaurian
Sandstone block containing portions of two ankylosaurian dorsal vertebrae and two probable ribs. Photograph (a) and line drawing (b) lateral view. Photograph (c) reserve side of block showing two probable ribs and parts of the vertebrae with (d) line drawing.
Picture credit: Arbour et al (Fossil Record)
Armoured Dinosaur Bones Collected in 1930
The specimen was collected by the Canadian geologist Merton Yarwood Williams in 1930 during a geological survey of the area of the “Peace River district”. Charles M. Sternberg later identified the fossil material as representing an ornithischian dinosaur resembling Camptosaurus.
It was loaned to the Royal Ontario Museum for preparation and study and as part of the research, several members of the scientific team visited the area where the fossil was discovered in an attempt to relocate the original site. Unfortunately, high river levels prevented an extensive search of the steep sided riverbanks. The team did find a number of plant fossils and a natural cast of a dinosaur footprint – Tetrapodosaurus, an ichnogenus believed to represent an ankylosaurian. Dinosaur footprint fossils are associated with this area, many of these tracks are thought to represent armoured dinosaurs.
Details of the Ankylosaurian Vertebrae (British Columbia)
Right lateral view of isolated neural arch (a), with (b) axial view of the isolated centrum, broken at its approximate mid-length and showing strong constriction, inferring an hour-glass shape for the bone. Ventral view of the transverse process of the isolated neural arch (c).
Picture credit: Arbour et al (Fossil Record)
The Dunvegan Formation
The Dunvegan Formation outcrops in both northern Alberta and British Columbia, it is primarily composed of marine strata and deposits laid down in a near-shore delta environment. Vertebrate fossils are rare but shark and teleosts (bony fish), fossils have been found, including one remarkable discovery of a bony fish found in a 75 mm diameter oil drill core – Tycheroichthys dunveganensis.
These fragmentary remains (CMN 59667), are the only body fossils of an ankylosaurian known from British Columbia, although a few dermal scales and ossicles from an outcrop of the Dunvegan Formation in Alberta have been ascribed to an armoured dinosaur. It is difficult to date the sediments accurately, but the fossils are approximately 99-96 million years old.
What Sort of Ankylosaurian Was It?
CMN 59667 has been identified as ankylosaur material based on a number of traits and characteristics observed in the vertebrae. Although ankylosaur fossils are known from roughly contemporaneous strata in the United States, these types of dinosaurs are not common components of the associated dinosaur fauna.
The body fossils are too fragmentary to confidently assign them to either a nodosaurid or an ankylosaurid ankylosaur. The fossils are still highly significant, terrestrial Cenomanian assemblages are rare in North America but those fossils that have been found provide evidence of an important time in our planet’s history when there was a considerable faunal turnover between the end of the Early Cretaceous and the earliest Late Cretaceous.
A Scale Drawing of the Roughly Contemporaneous Animantarx from the Cedar Mountain Formation of Utah (USA)
A scale drawing of the armoured dinosaur from Utah – Animantarx ramaljonesi. This dinosaur speculatively assigned to the Nodosauridae, is roughly contemporaneous with the ankylosaurian from the Dunvegan Formation of British Columbia.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Potentially Providing Important Information on Faunal Turnover
The discovery of skeletal fossils from the Pine River demonstrates the potential for the Dunvegan Formation to produce terrestrial vertebrate fossils that may provide important new data on this significant transitional period during the Cretaceous. The researchers hope that the discovery of more body fossils from this location will help them to make a more specific identification as to what sort of ankylosaurian dinosaur roamed this part of British Columbia.
The scientific paper: “An ankylosaurian dinosaur from the Cenomanian Dunvegan Formation of northeastern British Columbia, Canada” by Victoria M. Arbour, Derek Larson, Matthew Vavrek, Lisa Buckley and David Evans published in the Fossil Record, an open-access journal of the Museum für Naturkunde.
