Unusual skeleton of a predatory lizard found on the Jurassic Mile

It has already been sent to the laboratory and exhibited in museums

The rare discovery of a prehistoric Allosaurus found along the famous Jurassic Mile in Wyoming has delighted archaeologists. The value of the excavation lies in the fact that the bones are mostly intact, with traces of trauma and even skin. The exhibit has already been exhibited at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis.

Photo: Children's Museum of Indianapolis

Paleontologists from the Children's Museum of Indianapolis discovered a unique item — a well-preserved leg of an Allosaurus, a type of large carnivorous dinosaur. They predominantly lived in the western United States of America more than 150 million years ago at the end of the Jurassic period.

Scientists emphasize that the discovery of allosaurus bones — something more than a pair of limbs. This discovery makes Jurassic Mile a unique place that continues to give gifts to science.

Archaeologists call this area Jurassic Mile because dinosaurs once chased prey through the mud here, and some The largest creatures that lived 150 million years ago lumbered along the tropical floodplain.

“We have been excavating in this area since 2017,— noted the curator of the paleontology department of the Children's Museum Laura Rooney, — And we don't think of stopping any time soon. It made us very happy all this time.”

Rooney helped find the bones of two sauropod dinosaurs, which are already on display in the museum. In 2020, fossils of long-necked lizards were still being recovered from the rock.

“We never expected to find anything in these particular layers,— Rooney told Cowboy State Daily, — But when we pulled out one sample, we saw a glimpse of something darker in color, a little shiny. We told the excavators to stop and let us take a look.”

At that moment, the Allosaurus leg was found, parts of which were preserved in perfect condition. All the bones, from the thin toes to the long lower and upper limbs, were connected as they would have been when the dinosaur was alive, what paleontologists call articulation.

Paleontologists are happiest when they find articulated skeletons. Discovery of an intact dinosaur — a sign that his body was buried underground after death without much exposure to water, decomposition, or scavengers. Such findings also mean that the skin may be preserved. Several «dinosaur mummies» have been found in Wyoming. with pieces of skin stretched over their bare bones.

“Some allosaurus skin prints have been found before, — explains Rooney. — «This helps expand our knowledge of the appearance of scales in different areas of the body of these dinosaurs.»

Palaeontologist Joseph Frederickson believes that small fossils from miles away in the Jurassic could lead to major discoveries.

“This— quite a special place where everything from the tiniest animals to the largest in the ecosystem of the past has been preserved. There are quite a lot of active projects and works,” — Frederickson states.

Some small finds include fossils of small dinosaurs, lizard-like reptiles, plant prints and rare fish from the Late Jurassic period. They even found traces of other dinosaurs that walked around the area alongside the fossilized remains of their deceased relatives.

The legs, tail, ribs, abdomen and neck of this Allosaurus are articulated and well preserved. But the question arises, where is the head? Rooney shared a secret:

«A fragment of the skull and neck of an Allosaurus is in our laboratory, but one rather noticeable part of it is missing — these are muzzles. This is our big plan for this summer — find it in the soil of Wyoming, but we know it's here somewhere.»

Palaeontologists admit that summer in Wyoming — the best time of the year. They dream of resuming their excavations in the summer of 2024. Scientists are not saying exactly where Jurassic Mile is located in order to protect the site from any looters or curious people. It is known to be located east of Yellowstone National Park.