Two remarkable fossil discoveries have recently emerged from North America and Denmark, shedding light on predatory behaviors and ecosystems during the Cretaceous period. The findings—a dinosaur bone displaying bite marks from a crocodile-like creature and fossilized animal vomit—offer fresh perspectives on ancient life.
The first discovery relates to the fossilized neck bone of a young pterosaur, unearthed by researchers from the University of Reading during a field course at Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada, this past July. This bone, showing signs of having been bitten by a crocodilian 76 million years ago, provides rare evidence of predator-prey dynamics from the time. According to Dr. Brian Pickles, who led the research effort, "Bite traces help to document species interactions from this period." The study, co-authored by scientists from Canada’s Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology and the University of New England, highlighted the significance of this find.
Dr. Caleb Brown, the lead author of the study from RTMP, noted the unusual nature of the find, stating, "Pterosaur bones are very delicate, so finding fossils where another animal has clearly taken a bite is exceptionally uncommon." The punctured vertebra is thought to belong to a juvenile Azhdarchid pterosaur, with estimates of its wingspan reaching 6ft 7in (2m). For perspective, adult Azhdarchids could reach as tall as giraffes, boasting wingspans as extensive as 32ft 10in (10m).
The findings suggest crocodilians preyed on or scavenged young pterosaurs, hinting at complex ecological interactions. Though researchers couldn’t determine whether the pterosaur was alive or dead at the time of the bite, the evidence clearly indicates predation behavior, making it the first record of ancient crocodilians feeding on pterosaurs found in North America.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, another discovery has caught the attention of paleontologists. An amateur fossil seeker named Peter Bennicke stumbled upon what experts believe to be pieces of vomited animal matter, dating back 66 million years, on the beach at Stevns Klint, Denmark. This fossil, containing fragments of at least two lily species, provides valuable insight as it is categorized as regurgitalite—a term used to describe indigestible parts of food expelled by animals.
Jesper Milàn, curator at Geomuseum Faxe, where the fossil is now housed, praised the findings: "Lilies are not particularly nutritious food, as they are mainly made up of calcium plates held together by very few soft tissues. But here we have an animal, most likely some kind of fish, which—66 million years ago—ate lilies from the seabed of the Cretaceous Sea and then vomited them up.” This observation could ignite new understandings of the food web and predator-prey relationships during the Cretaceous period, emphasizing the interconnectedness of marine life.
Both discoveries contribute to the ever-evolving narrative of ancient ecosystems and predation strategies. The juvenile pterosaur’s fragility and the vomit fossil’s insight showcase the myriad interactions occurring millions of years ago, which continue to be pieced together by dedicated researchers.
Dr. Pickles elaborated on this sentiment, stating, "These findings enrich our appreciation of Cretaceous life and illuminate the roles different species played. These specimens provide glimpses of the ancient world and how life interacted within it.”
Such fossils act as puzzle pieces, allowing paleontologists to engage with the mysteries of Earth’s distant past. Each new find serves to underline the importance of fieldwork and research in unlocking the secrets of the age of dinosaurs and prehistorical marine life.
Both of these remarkable fossils exemplify not just the delicacy and uniqueness of preservation but also the exciting potential for future discoveries. Every bone and vomit fossil found adds to the extensive tale of life on Earth when dinosaurs ruled and marine ecosystems thrived.