Incredible Animal Fossils

Introduction

• Fossils provide a window into the prehistoric world
• Some fossils are more significant than others
• Overview of 15 incredible animal fossils

15. Hematite Tubes

• Discovered in northern Quebec, Canada
• Dates to more than 3.77 billion years old
• Contains tiny tubes made of hematite, similar to bacteria from hydrothermal vents
• Evidence of early life forms on Earth

14. T-Rex Soft Tissue

• Found in Montana in 2005, leg fossil of adolescent T-Rex
• Soft, transparent, and flexible tissue discovered
• Previously thought impossible for 68 million-year-old samples
• Soft tissue similar to bird collagen
• Iron released after death may have preserved the tissue
• New insights into dinosaur biology

13. Giant Prehistoric Turtle

• Discovered in Columbia, lived around 60 million years ago
• Named Carbonemes confrani, found in coal mine
• Skull measured 9.5 inches; shell about 5 feet 7 inches
• Powerful jaw, omnivorous diet
• Only one specimen found, indicating large territorial needs

12. Monster of Spitsbergen

• Fossil discovery on Spitsbergen island, 2012
• Remains of 28 pliosaurs and ichthyosaurs from 150 million years ago
• One specimen estimated at 50 feet long with large vertebrae and teeth
• Rare complete fossil with a large skull

11. Ancient Snails

• 2016 discovery in amber, Myanmar
• Included two tiny land snails from 99 million years ago
• Preservation of soft tissues is extremely rare
• Related to modern-day tropical land snails

10. Mosquito with Blood

• Found in northwestern Montana in 2013
• Mosquito from 46 million years ago with blood-filled abdomen
• Blood sample analysis revealed integrity of blood preservation
• Potential for understanding prehistoric animals and environments

9. Four-Legged Snake

• Fossil discovered in 2015 showing land-based serpent with limbs
• Origin unclear, raises questions on evolution of snakes

8. Ancient Shark Attack

• 2011 study of a whale rib fossil with tooth marks
• Dated to 3-4 million years ago, likely from a megalodon
• Evidence of a failed attack on the whale, indicating its survival

7. Tail in Amber

• 2015 discovery of a dinosaur tail in amber, 99 million years old
• Contained feathers and vertebrae, indicating early feather development
• Provides insights into the appearance of ancient dinosaurs

6. Baleen Whale

• Discovered by a high school student and later identified as a baleen whale
• One of 20 specimens found globally, around 14-16 million years old

5. New Dinosaur Species

• 2014 discovery of a previously unknown bird-like dinosaur, Anzu Vailie
• Found in North Dakota, lived alongside T-Rex

4. Megalodon Tooth

• Teeth are the primary evidence of megalodon, a massive sea predator
• Evidence suggests they could be larger or smaller than currently thought

3. Ancient Toothed Whale

• New species identified from a skull fragment previously labeled as beluga
• Shows ancestors lived in warmer waters, adaptational changes over time

2. Titanoboa

• Discovered in 2009, the largest snake ever found at 42 feet long
• Likely preyed on fish and thrived in a warm climate

1. Protoceratops and Velociraptor

• Fossil of two dinosaurs found fighting, dated to around 80 million years ago
• Provides insight into their behavior and interactions

Conclusion

• The study of fossils continues to reveal incredible information about prehistoric life.