While some fossils can be easily recognised and identified, many fossils represent species that no longer exist. Although dinosaurs are now extinct, their remaining fossils provide exciting information about prehistoric life on Earth including how and where dinosaurs lived. And there have been some amazing dinosaur fossil finds over the years.
Clayton Phipps, a rancher from Montana, and his team discovered two skeletons preserved in a combat-like form in June 2006. This fossil preserved two of the world’s most famous dinosaurs, Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops. Both dinosaurs were well-preserved, with skin envelopes and what appeared to be mummified internal organs. They appear to have died together, and appeared to have been in combat with each other due to teeth present in the spine and pelvis of the Triceratops, and a lateral split in the skull of the Tyrannosaurus rex.
Initially discovered in the late 1970s, the Maiasaura fossil is one of the most important dinosaur fossils in existence, providing incredible detail on how dinosaurs once lived, from growth rate to physical maturity. They also reveal evidence of the family lifestyle of dinosaurs, and their attachment to their young once hatched.
An intact plesiosaur skeleton of the species Nichollsia Borealis was found in Alberta, North America in 1994. With the whole of the dinosaur’s body preserved, this fossil is one of the oldest complete fossils to ever be discovered and represents a rich marine prehistory.
A 33-foot fossil of a pliosaur was discovered on an Arctic island in the Svalbard archipelago of Norway, and has since been known as ‘The Monster’. At 150 years old, this fossil was not only the largest but also the most complete pliosaur fossil ever found.
The fossil of a female ichthyosaur giving birth to three offspring was discovered in South Majiashan, China in 2011. While reptiles are known to be egg-laying, this fossil included one offspring who had been born, a second offspring part-way out of the birth canal, and another waiting to be born. This 248 million year old fossil provides an exciting contribution to scientific studies surrounding live-bearing in reptiles.
A nest containing the remains of fifteen baby Protoceratops andrewsi dinosaurs was discovered in Mongolia in 2011. This famous dinosaur fossil provides the first evidence of young dinosaurs remaining in nest environments for extended periods of time.
Previous mosasaurus fossils were found along coastal areas of Europe, North America, and North Africa, but this particular fossil discovered in Japan in 2015 provided the first link between the Eastern Pacific and the Middle East. The well-preserved fossil also revealed upon analysis that this particular dinosaur had binocular vision, providing it with strong depth perception.
As one of the best fossils ever found, the Diplodocus hallorum fossil measured 33 metres long. The first Diplodocus skeleton was discovered in 1878 by Wyoming scientists Benjamin Mudge and Samuel Wendell Williston.
A collection of Iguanodon teeth discovered in Sussex in 1822 provided the first evidence of a giant prehistoric reptilian herbivore ever to be discovered.
The femur of a megalosaurus was discovered in 1676 by an Oxford University professor, but the genus name was not classified until 150 years later by scientist William Buckland.
All of these famous dinosaur fossils reveal glimpses into what our planet was like millions of years ago, and how life on Earth has changed over time. While fossils reveal much about these ancient living creatures, we still have a lot to learn.
Discover our range of dinosaur fossils including 150 million year old dinosaur bones, 70 million year old egg shells, and 100 million year old Spinosaurus teeth from the Cretaceous period.
