TROVE OF NEW DINOSAUR FOSSILS IN ITALY STUNS EXCAVATORS

Sun 05 December 2021:

Fossils of a herd of 11 dinosaurs have been discovered for the first time in Italy, which will be a treat for various paleontologists.

This treasure trove also contains the largest and most complete dinosaur skeleton ever discovered in the country.

Isolated dinosaur remains have been unearthed in Italy during the 1990s. Palaeontologists have now identified a whole group at Villaggio del Pescatore. It is a former limestone quarry located near Trieste, Italy’s northernmost port city.

Incidentally that’s exactly what I am working on this #FossilFriday Antonio, Bruno (picture👇) & all their friends (5+ individuals) are part of a big project which includes Federico Fanti, @tetaneuron, @DavidEvans_ROM & others #Italian #dinosaurs #dinosauri #dinosauriitaliani 🇮🇹 https://t.co/yqO3kS0KPm pic.twitter.com/OrCViSOoNS

— Alessandro Chiarenza (@AAlechiarenza) August 28, 2020

The fossils belong to the Tethyshadros insularis species. It existed roughly 80 million years ago and could grow to be up to five metres long.

The University of Bologna said: “The team describes the skeletons of some of the most beautiful and pristine dinosaurs from the site (in particular of a new individual nicknamed ‘Bruno’) and highlights the occurrence of seven (probably 11) individuals at the Villaggio del Pescatore.”

Federico Fanti, professor, University of Bologna and leader of a research team, said, “Italy is not known for dinosaurs and, although we had a few lucky strikes in the past, now, we have a whole herd at one dinosaur site.”

After #Alaskadinosaurs paper last week, #FossilFridaychange of pace. 2009 biogeog. conf. @ U. Bologna (hosted by Dr. F. Fanti) we saw Tethyhadros in Trieste when still known only as Antonio. F. Della Vecchia leading field trip to Villagio del Pescatore where Antonio was found pic.twitter.com/OVTCsNXZuN

— Dr. Tony Fiorillo (@Paleo_Fiorillo) August 28, 2020

Fanti’s team’s findings were published in the journal ‘Scientific Reports.’

Palaeontologists uncovered a dinosaur skeleton called Antonio in Villaggio del Pescatore in 1996, and the town became famous for dinosaurs. It was initially believed to be of a “dwarf species”. Now, Antonio seems to be a young dinosaur, who was part of the herd that died together.

The area was believed to have been part of an island out in the proto-Mediterranean Sea that scientists have called Tethys.

According to the experts, this supported previous, incorrect theories about a dinosaur discovered at the site.

The skeleton, which was dubbed Antonio, was thought to have been a dwarf species in line with the accepted theory that evolution shrunk bigger animals in environments with restricted resources.

Now, the Bologna researchers concluded in their study that Antonion was likely a juvenile dinosaur, whereas the much bigger Bruno, was simply older.

(With inputs from agencies)

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