A fossil that was stored in a collection drawer for decades has been identified as the first dinosaur bone ever discovered in Antarctica. The vertebra, which measures around 10 centimeters in diameter, belonged to a juvenile or small adult Titanosaur, a group of long-necked herbivorous sauropods.
Discovery and Significance
The fossil was found in 1985 by a British Antarctic Survey expedition, but its significance was only recently realized. According to the Natural History Museum, the dinosaur it belonged to lived around 82 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous period. This discovery provides crucial evidence for understanding how dinosaurs dispersed across the southern continents.
The research also highlights the importance of scientific collections and the potential for new discoveries. As climate change causes ice to retreat, it is likely that more dinosaur fossils will be found on the continent. The discovery of this fossil is a significant find, as it provides insight into the history of Antarctic exploration and the biodiversity of the continent.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
