A newly published scientific paper demonstrates that an Edmontosaurus fossil contains collagen. The study confirms fossils can retain original organic materials.  The discovery of hydroxyproline, a unique collagen-indicator amino acid, in acid-digested samples resolves a long-standing debate amongst palaeontologists.  Identifying organic materials in dinosaur bones could provide a new perspective on the Dinosauria.

Reports of proteins in fossilised bones have been a subject of controversy in the scientific literature.  It is assumed that fossilisation results in the destruction of all organic components.  However, this new research adds weight to the theory that in exceptional circumstances traces of organic materials can persist for tens of millions of years.  Research led by scientists from the University of Liverpool suggests that Mesozoic fossils could still preserve remnants of original organic materials.

A view of the inside of the Edmontosaurus fossil bone. An exceptionally well-preserved Edmontosaurus sacrum excavated from the Upper Cretaceous strata of the South Dakota Hell Creek Formation is demonstrated to preserve evidence of hydroxyproline. Hydroxyproline is a unique collagen-indicator amino acid. Picture credit: University of Liverpool.

Picture credit: University of Liverpool

Edmontosaurus Fossil Contains Collagen

The research team used mass spectrometry and other advanced techniques to tease out traces of preserved collagen within the sacrum of an Edmontosaurus.  Edmontosaurus is a duck-billed dinosaur (family Hadrosauridae).  Fossils of these taxon come from Upper Cretaceous deposits of North America. It was a large, herbivorous dinosaur. Some specimens indicate a body length in excess of thirteen metres.

The CollectA Deluxe 1:40 scale Edmontosaurus dinosaur model. A detailed analysis of Edmontosaurus hip bone fossils (sacrum) reveals evidence of collagen.

The picture (above) shows a model of Edmontosaurus.  This figure is from the CollectA Deluxe series.

To view the range of CollectA Deluxe prehistoric animal models: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Animal Figures.

Writing in the journal “Analytical Chemistry” the researchers outline several techniques, including protein sequencing that led to the detection of collagen in the fossilised bone. The specimen (a sacrum), was excavated from Hell Creek Formation deposits located in South Dakota. It is part of the University of Liverpool’s collections and offered a unique opportunity for cutting-edge analyses.

The Implications of this Research

Commenting on the significance of this study, co-author Professor Steve Taylor (chair of the Mass Spectrometry Research Group at the University of Liverpool), stated:

“This research shows beyond doubt that organic biomolecules, such as proteins like collagen, appear to be present in some fossils. Our results have far-reaching implications. Firstly, it refutes the hypothesis that any organics found in fossils must result from contamination. Secondly, it suggests that cross-polarised light microscopy images of fossil bones, collected for a century, should be revisited. These images may reveal intact patches of bone collagen, potentially offering a ready-made trove of fossil candidates for further protein analysis. This could unlock new insights into dinosaurs. For example, revealing connections between dinosaur species that remain unknown. Lastly, the findings inform the intriguing mystery of how these proteins have managed to persist in fossils for so long.”

Researchers from the University of California were also involved in this study.  Mass spectrometry was used to detect and quantify, for the first time, the amino acid hydroxyproline, which is specific to collagen when found in bone, thus confirming the presence of decayed collagen.

Edmontosaurus fossil specimen used in collagen study. Picture credit: University of Liverpool.

Picture credit: University of Liverpool

The researchers conclude that their study demonstrated the presence of identical collagen peptide sequences previously discovered in another hadrosaur and a T. rex sample.

Links to Other Blog Posts

To read an article from 2017 about a study that identified fragments of collagen in the femur of a hadrosaur (Brachylophosaurus):Researchers Confirm the Presence of Dinosaur Collagen.

Traces of organic material discovered in a juvenile hadrosaur fossil: Has Dinosaur DNA Been Found?

Research from 2008 outlining the search for organic materials in a femur of Tyrannosaurus rex: Are You Going to Call the “Tyrant Lizard King” Chicken?

This newly published research opens further avenues for studying ancient life, offering a glimpse into the biochemical preservation of fossils of extinct creatures.

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the University of Liverpool in the compilation of this article.

The scientific paper: “Evidence for Endogenous Collagen in Edmontosaurus Fossil Bone” by Lucien Tuinstra, Brian Thomas, Steven Robinson, Krzysztof Pawlak, Gazmend Elezi, Kym Francis Faull, and Stephen Taylor published in Analytical Chemistry.

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Researchers have described a new theropod dinosaur from the Cerro del Pueblo Formation (Coahuila, northern Mexico).  The dinosaur has been named Mexidracon longimanus.  It is the first ornithomimid to be named from fossils associated with the Cerro del Pueblo Formation. The most conspicuous characteristics of this new taxon are the exceptionally long metacarpal bones.  These are the bones that form the palm of the hand.  The hands of Mexidracon longimanus were long and slender.  Furthermore, the hands were longer than the humerus (upper arm bone).  It is not known what these slender hands were used for, although it has been speculated that they helped this toothless dinosaur forage for food.

A scale drawing of the newly described ornithomimid dinosaur from the Cerro del Pueblo Formation (Mexico). Although known from only fragmentary remains it is thought this dinosaur was feathered. It is estimated to have stood around one metre tall and measured two and half metres long. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Mexidracon longimanus – the first ornithomimid formally described from Coahuila

In 2014, Professor Claudio de León-Dávila collected postcranial ornithomimid remains from a deposit representing an estuary environment.  These fossils are currently housed in the collection of the Benemérita Escuela Normal de Coahuila (BENC), a teacher training institution in Coahuila state. Ornithomimosaur remains are relatively common in the Campanian Cerro del Pueblo Formation, although most of the material is highly fragmentary.

To date only one other ornithomimosaur has been described from the region. Paraxenisaurus normalensis was scientifically described in 2020 (Serrano-Brañas et al).  It is represented by elements from the hands, limbs, including the distal end of a femur, and caudal vertebrae.  P. normalensis is thought to be much larger than the newly described Mexidracon.  Moreover, it has been tentatively assigned to the Deinocheiridae family within the Ornithomimosauria clade. Whereas, Mexidracon longimanus has been assigned to another family, the Ornithomimidae.

A model of Deinocheirus.  The figure is from the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular range.

The image (above) shows the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular Deinocheirus figure.  It is thought that Paraxenisaurus normalensis may have been related to this Asian deinocheirid.

To view the CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular range available from Everything Dinosaur: CollectA Prehistoric Animal Models.

The Etymology of a Dinosaur Name

The genus name is derived from the prefix “Mexi”, a reference to Mexico and the suffix “dracon”.  This is from the Greek, and it means serpent or dragon.  The species or trivial name translates as “long hands”.  So, this new theropod’s name translates as “long-handed Mexican dragon.”

The researchers conclude that the discovery of the first ornithomimid in this region of Mexico suggests that during the Campanian faunal stage of the Cretaceous there was a large number of different ornithomimosaurs present.

The scientific paper: “A long-handed new ornithomimid dinosaur from the Campanian (Upper Cretaceous) Cerro del Pueblo Formation, Coahuila, Mexico” by Claudia Inés Serrano-Brañas, Belinda Espinosa-Chávez, Claudio de León-Dávila, S. Augusta Maccracken, Daniela Barrera-Guevara, Esperanza Torres-Rodríguez and Albert Prieto-Márquez published in Cretaceous Research.

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