Scientists have discovered the first fossilized dinosaur remains from the Jurassic era

A team of experts from the University of Portsmouth and Queen’s University of Belfast recently uncovered the only dinosaur bones that may have been dragged into the sea, dead or alive, sinking into the Jurassic floor where they were buried and fossilized. These two fossil bones were found by the late teacher and fossil collector Roger Byrne in Northern Ireland’s County Antrim.

Analysis confirmed that they come from the earliest Jurassic rocks found at Islandmagee, on the east coast of County Antrim. This discovery is part of a larger project to document Jurassic rocks in Northern Ireland and draws on many fossils in the Ulster Museum collections.

Dr Simms, National Museums NI, said: “This is an extremely significant discovery. The great rarity of such fossils here is due to the fact that most Irish rocks are of the wrong age for dinosaurs, too old or too young, making it almost impossible to confirm the existence of dinosaurs on these shores. “

Initially, the fossils were expected to come from the same animal; however, the group was stunned to discover that they came from two completely different dinosaurs.

Scientists used high-resolution 3D digital models of the fossils for bone fragment analysis. They recognized the type of dinosaur each came from. One is part of a femur (upper leg bone) of a four-legged plant-eater called Scelidosaurus. The other is part of the tibia (lower leg bone) of a two-legged meat-eater such as the Sarcosaur.

Robert Smyth of the University of Portsmouth said: “By analyzing the shape and structure of the bones, we realized that they belonged to two very different animals. One is very dense and robust, typical of an armored plant eater. The other is slender, with thin bony walls and features found only in fast-moving two-legged predatory dinosaurs called theropods. “

“Although fragmented, these significant and valuable insights into a pivotal period in the evolution of the dinosaurs, some 200 million years ago. It is at this time that the dinosaurs really begin to dominate the terrestrial ecosystems of the world. “

Professor David Martill said, “Scelidosaurus continues to appear in the marine layers, and I’m starting to think it may have been an algae-like animal, perhaps even eating them as marine iguanas do today.”

Journal reference:

1. Michael J Simms et al. The first dinosaur remains from Ireland. DOI: 10.1016 / j.pgeola.2020.06.005