The bone was discovered in Dinosaur Provincial Park in Canada. BBC
A remarkable discovery has been made in Canada, shedding light on predator-prey relationships from 76 million years ago. Researchers have found a fossilized neck bone of a dinosaur that was bitten by a crocodile-like creature. The bone, belonging to a young flying reptile, was unearthed in Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, in July 2023.
The bone features a distinctive 4mm-wide puncture mark, believed to be caused by a crocodilian tooth. This discovery, released in a study last month, provides rare evidence of interaction between predator and prey during the Cretaceous Period. The researchers said the find offers a glimpse into the ancient ecosystems and the dynamics between species in the region at the time.
The research team, led by Dr. Brian Pickles from the University of Reading, was joined by experts from the UK, Canada, and Australia. They were conducting a course at Dinosaur Provincial Park when they made the discovery. A scientific paper on the fossil was later written by researchers from Canada’s Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology (RTMP) and the University of New England in Australia.
The bone was discovered in Dinosaur Provincial Park in Canada. BBC
Dr. Caleb Brown, from the RTMP and lead author of the study, shared his excitement about the rarity of the find. “Pterosaur bones are very delicate, so finding fossils where another animal has clearly taken a bite is exceptionally uncommon,” he said. He also pointed out that this specimen is even more rare because it belonged to a juvenile pterosaur.
The fossil is believed to be from a young Azhdarchid pterosaur, a type of flying reptile. The young pterosaur had an estimated wingspan of about 6.7 feet (2 meters). Adults of this species could grow to be as tall as a giraffe, with wingspans of about 32.8 feet (10 meters).
To confirm the bite mark was not caused by fossilization or excavation damage, the researchers used micro-CT scans and compared the bone to other pterosaur fossils. Dr. Pickles explained that the bite marks help researchers understand species interactions from this ancient time. Although it’s unclear if the pterosaur was alive or dead when it was bitten, the evidence suggests that crocodilian creatures occasionally preyed on or scavenged juvenile pterosaurs in prehistoric Alberta.
This discovery marks the first time evidence has been found in North America of ancient crocodilians feeding on these giant flying reptiles. The findings give scientists new insights into the behaviors of ancient species and how they interacted with each other millions of years ago.
