Gigantic Pachyrhinosaurus skull: discovery attracts dino fans!

Gigantic Pachyrhinosaurus skull: discovery attracts dino fans!

The impressive skull of a Pachyrhinosaurus, dating back over 72 million years, has been discovered in Alberta, Canada. The skull, also known as "Big Sam", weighs a whopping 272 kilograms and represents the second significant discovery of a herbivorous dinosaur species from a dense bone bed. According to theportugalnews.com The site was discovered during filming of a new BBC series Walking With Dinosaurs. This series is a revised remake of an early production that aired 25 years ago.

The discovery was made in Pipestone Creek Provincial Park, about a 30-minute drive from Grande Prairie. The region is known for its fossil finds and is considered one of the most important dinosaur sites in North America. It is estimated that up to 40,000 dinosaurs could potentially be fossilized in this area, buried in an area the size of a tennis court. This excavation site was discovered in the 1970s, but systematic excavations only began later.

The meaning of Big Sam

Big Sam is one of the largest known herds of dinosaurs that has been studied for less than 50 years. The skull was found in a cluster of around 300 other bones and was in surprisingly well-preserved condition. Over 200 paleontologists are involved in the BBC series, which explores various dinosaur stories and locations. Research on this Pachyrhinosaurus sheds light on the behavior of these animals, including the stabilization of their eyes, which is relevant to herd animals.

Particularly striking are the unique collar shapes of these dinosaurs, which have been compared to the striped patterns of zebras. This could indicate social interactions within the herd. Loud cbc.ca Big Sam was stabilized with plaster and wooden planks before being carefully dug out with a crane. Bamforth, who took part in the excavation, described this find as the largest skull she has ever extracted.

An impressive fossil deposit

The bone bed from which Big Sam came is one of the densest dinosaur bone beds in North America, with between 100 and 300 bones per square meter. The region is endemic to this species of dinosaur, which occurs here and only here. The site was discovered about 50 years ago by a teacher, who took a decade to convince scientists to investigate the site more closely.

At the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum, visitors can take tours of the area and learn more about the fascinating discoveries. The insights into the fossils and their associated history also provide new perspectives and awareness of the complexities of evolution that shaped this magnificent herbivore.