Dinosaur fossil found with skin and meal

A dinosaur fossil found in Alberta includes its armor, skin, and even the last meal it ate, a discovery that paleontologists describe as extraordinary. This specimen, named Borealopelta markmitchelli, is remarkable for its rare preservation of soft tissues and pigments, which have remained intact for over 110 million years.

Discovery made in a mine

The fossil was discovered in 2011 by Shawn Funk, a mechanical excavator operator at the Millennium bituminous sands mine. He noticed blocks of an unusual color, which led to the identification of the dinosaur’s remains, preserved in a way that is extremely rare for such ancient fossils.

Details of the dinosaur’s appearance

The analysis of the fossil revealed that Borealopelta markmitchelli had a reddish counter-shading pattern, with darker coloring on its belly. This coloration likely helped it blend into its environment to avoid predators like the Acrocanthosaurus. The fossil also includes traces of keratin sheaths and skin, as well as the osteoderms, or bony plates, that formed its armor.

Fossil’s last meal identified

Inside the fossilized stomach of the dinosaur, scientists found evidence of its last meal, which consisted mostly of fern leaves, with traces of charcoal. This suggests the dinosaur was grazing in an area that had recently experienced a fire, providing insight into its diet and habitat.

Effort to extract the fossil

Extracting the fossil from the mine required over 7,000 hours of work by Mark Mitchell, a technician from the Royal Tyrrell Museum. His efforts were supported by the National Geographic Society, highlighting the complexity of preserving such a delicate and rare specimen.

Fossil officially described and named

The fossil was officially described in August 2017 by paleontologist Caleb Brown and his team in the journal Current Biology. It was named Borealopelta markmitchelli in honor of Mark Mitchell, who played a key role in its extraction and preservation.

Fossil on display in a museum

The fossil is currently on display at the Royal Tyrrell Museum as part of the exhibition Grounds for Discovery, which showcases fossils found through industrial activities. This exhibit highlights the unexpected ways in which modern industries can contribute to paleontological discoveries.