Researchers have revealed that the site offers a unique glimpse into a coastal environment in Saskatchewan, where large land-dwelling dinosaurs such as *Centrosaurus* coexisted with marine creatures. CBC
In a groundbreaking discovery, McGill University students and paleontologists have uncovered Saskatchewan's first known fossil specimens of Centrosaurus, a horned dinosaur species, along the South Saskatchewan River. This remarkable find offers a glimpse into what the province looked like over 75 million years ago, when these ancient creatures roamed the Earth.
The Centrosaurus was a herbivorous dinosaur, known for its single horn on its snout and the spines that adorned the back of its neck frill. This new discovery, located at Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park, has been named the Lake Diefenbaker Bonebed. The site reveals an ecosystem that had never been documented in Canada before, featuring a mix of both terrestrial and marine life.
According to Alexandre Demers-Potvin, one of the study's authors, the find is important because it offers a rare look into a transitional period in North America. "There seems to be quite an interesting transition in that part of North America between a fully terrestrial fauna and a marine fauna," Demers-Potvin explained. "It was probably a very rich, very diverse habitat."
A partial right parietal bone discovered at the Lake Diefenbaker Bonebed is believed to belong to a *Centrosaurus*. CBC
Published in the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, the article highlights the uniqueness of this new site. It provides the first-ever insight into a coastal habitat in Saskatchewan, showing how large dinosaurs like Centrosaurus coexisted with marine animals. Over the course of a decade, paleontologists excavated and documented these fossils, which also included a rare combination of dinosaur and marine fossils, including the Citipes elegans. This small, two-legged dinosaur, which resembled a chicken with a beak, was one of the team's most surprising finds.
Students and paleontologists from McGill University have documented what are considered Saskatchewan's first confirmed fossils of *Centrosaurus*. CBC
The fossils were carefully prepared and curated at McGill's Redpath Museum, after being loaned to the institution by the Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM) in Regina. Ryan McKellar, the RSM's curator of paleontology, emphasized how these findings are crucial for understanding the differences between the ecosystems of Alberta and Saskatchewan. "They're some of the first records from that particular deposit, which makes it an exciting new discovery and provides material for future studies as well," McKellar said.
The Royal Saskatchewan Museum showcased Scotty, the largest Tyrannosaurus rex ever found, in 2019. CBC
Saskatchewan, known for its rich fossil history, has been home to numerous discoveries spanning back over 66 million years. However, this new collection of fossils, dating back 75 million years, opens a new window into the province’s distant past. McKellar believes these discoveries will help the museum connect with new audiences, especially young people interested in science. "I find it fairly rewarding, a rewarding area to work in, in terms of inspiring kids and getting people interested in science," he said.
Ryan McKellar, the paleontology curator at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Regina, emphasizes the importance of collaboration for long-term projects like this recent discovery. CBC
This study is the culmination of decades of research, beginning with Tim Tokaryk's work in 1990, which focused on the Lake Diefenbaker Bonebed. The collaboration between the Royal Saskatchewan Museum and McGill University has been key to advancing our knowledge of Earth's history.
The findings also serve as a reminder of Saskatchewan’s untapped potential for fossil discoveries, a subject McKellar hopes will spark interest in the province’s paleontological wealth. "It's great to see these things being rediscovered or re-explored," he noted.
