Team members Matthew Lamanna and Kara Fikse from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History are seen excavating a significant hadrosaur limb bone at the Cañadón Tomás Quarry (CTQ) in March 2023. Photo Credit: Derek Fikse.
A groundbreaking fossil excavation site in Argentina is offering fresh perspectives on life just prior to the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs, during the concluding phase of the Cretaceous era. Newly released research, presented at the Geological Society of America’s GSA Connects 2023 conference by Matthew Lamanna, the leading dinosaur expert at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, elaborates on significant fossil discoveries from a location identified as the Cañadón Tomás Quarry in the Patagonian region of southern Argentina.
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Dinosaur History in the Southern Hemisphere
Matthew Lamanna states that compared to their Northern Hemisphere counterparts, Cretaceous-era dinosaurs and other continental vertebrates from the Southern Hemisphere are relatively under-studied. This imbalance affects our grasp of biodiversity, evolutionary history, and paleobiogeographic patterns. Lamanna adds that a critical question involves understanding how non-avian dinosaurs in the southern half of the globe fared at the boundary between the Cretaceous and Paleogene periods.
Initial Discoveries and Context
The Cañadón Tomás Quarry was initially discovered in the early months of 2020 due to oil explorations in the area. Regulatory stipulations mandated a preliminary paleontological impact assessment, which led to the unearthing of dinosaur fossils.
Noelia Cardozo, a Ph.D. candidate at the Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco (UNPSJB) and a member of the Cañadón Tomás research group, shares that the impact study, conducted by individuals from the Museo de La Plata, led to the discovery of hadrosaur bones. These findings prompted additional exploration by the paleontology unit of UNPSJB, resulting in further discoveries. Work has been ongoing since late 2020, with the aim of making additional significant discoveries.
The Unique Aspects of Cañadón Tomás Quarry
Excavations at the site have unveiled a plethora of hadrosaur bones. Although hadrosaurs are commonly found and well-studied in sites from the Northern Hemisphere, they are far less commonly documented in the Southern Hemisphere. Intriguingly, the fossils found appear to belong to hadrosaurs of various sizes.
Lamanna suggests that ongoing investigations may reveal that these hadrosaurs were part of a social or familial group, possibly even a herd, buried together at the site.
Apart from hadrosaurs, the team unearthed teeth and claws of non-avian predatory dinosaurs—most likely an abelisaurid and either a noasaurid or a juvenile abelisaurid.
The Significance of Other Vertebrate Fossils
What has particularly invigorated the team are other rare fossil discoveries, including a snake vertebra, likely of a madtsoiid species—the first Cretaceous snake discovered in this part of Patagonia—and notably, the upper jaw fragment of a small mammal identified as a reigitheriid.
Cardozo states that the discovery of the mammalian jaw was unforeseen and transformative, considering that the area was primarily known for its dinosaur fossil record. This finding is particularly meaningful as it fills a crucial gap in our understanding of mammalian life leading up to the mass extinction event that ended the Cretaceous era.
Future Prospects of Cañadón Tomás
While research is still in its nascent stage, the findings so far indicate that Cañadón Tomás is an exceptionally promising site. Bruno Alvarez, another Ph.D. student at UNPSJB, emphasizes that the site not only offers remarkable diversity but also abundant material for future research.
Matthew Lamanna encourages continued attention to Cañadón Tomás, as it holds substantial promise not just for elucidating the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction dynamics but also for potentially uncovering new species.
Meeting: Geological Society of America’s GSA Connects 2023
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about fokus keyword: Fossil Discoveries at Cañadón Tomás Quarry
What is the primary focus of the fossil discoveries at the Cañadón Tomás Quarry in Argentina?
The primary focus is to shed new light on life just before the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs, during the end of the Cretaceous era. The site has yielded significant fossil findings, including bones of hadrosaurs and other vertebrates.
Who is leading the research at the Cañadón Tomás Quarry?
Matthew Lamanna, a leading dinosaur researcher at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, presented the research at the Geological Society of America’s GSA Connects 2023 conference. The research team also includes Ph.D. students from the Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco.
Why is the Cañadón Tomás Quarry considered a groundbreaking site?
The site is considered groundbreaking because it offers fresh perspectives on biodiversity, evolutionary history, and paleobiogeographic patterns, especially in the Southern Hemisphere. It also holds the promise of unveiling new species and furthering our understanding of Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction dynamics.
What types of fossils have been discovered at the site?
The site has yielded a plethora of hadrosaur bones, teeth and claws from non-avian predatory dinosaurs, and other vertebrate fossils including a snake vertebra and a mammalian jaw fragment.
How did the Cañadón Tomás Quarry come to the attention of researchers?
The site was initially discovered due to petroleum interest in the area. A mandatory paleontological impact assessment led to the unearthing of dinosaur fossils, prompting further academic exploration.
What is the significance of finding a mammalian jaw fragment at the site?
The discovery of the mammalian jaw fragment is transformative as it provides crucial insights into mammalian life leading up to the mass extinction event that concluded the Cretaceous era. It is the first Cretaceous mammal fossil found in this region of Patagonia.
Are there any future prospects for research at Cañadón Tomás Quarry?
Yes, research and excavations are still in the preliminary stage, but the findings thus far indicate that the site is extremely promising for future research, including the possibility of discovering new species.
What are the implications of these discoveries for our understanding of the Cretaceous era?
The discoveries offer vital clues about biodiversity, evolutionary history, and extinction dynamics, particularly how non-avian dinosaurs and other vertebrates fared in the Southern Hemisphere during the Cretaceous era.
More about fokus keyword: Fossil Discoveries at Cañadón Tomás Quarry
- Geological Society of America’s GSA Connects 2023 Conference
- Carnegie Museum of Natural History: Matthew Lamanna
- Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco: Paleontology Research
- Overview of Hadrosaurs
- Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction Event
- Paleontological Impact Assessment in Argentina
- Southern Hemisphere’s Dinosaur History
5 comments
Wow, this is some next-level stuff. Who woulda thought Argentina would be the hotspot for dino discovery, huh?
Lamanna’s really diving deep into this, isn’t he? A complete game-changer for the paleo world, I bet.
I’m most intrigued by the mammal jaw. Kind of puts a new twist on the dino-dominated narrative we’re so used to.
Amazing to think what’s still buried out there, just waiting to be found. Makes you wonder what else is hidden in the ground.
seriously, this is like a real-life Jurassic Park unfolding in front of us. can’t wait to hear more about what they find next!