New dinosaur species possible in Northwestern Alberta (Better avoid Alberta)

University of Alberta ^ | May 12, 2009 | Unknown

[decimon]

Edmonton—The discovery of a gruesome feeding frenzy that played out 73 million years ago in northwestern Alberta may also lead to the discovery of new dinosaur species in northwestern Alberta.

University of Alberta student Tetsuto Miyashita and Frederico Fanti, a paleontology graduate student from Italy, made the discovery near Grande Prairie, 450 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.

Miyashita and Fanti came across a nesting site and found the remains of baby, plant-eating dinosaurs and the teeth of a predator. The researchers matched the teeth to a Troodon, a raptor-like dinosaur about two metres in length. This finding has opened new doors in dinosaur research on this part of the continent: "It established that dinosaurs were nesting at this high latitude," said Miyashita. "It also shows for the first time a significant number of Troodons in the area [who] hunted hatchling dinosaurs."

Over the course of two summers of field work Miyashita and Fanti began building a theory that Grande Prairie is a "missing link" between known dinosaur species that existed much further to the north and south. "Prior to this there were no localities with a variety of dinosaurs and other animals between Alaska and southern Alberta," said Myiashita. The list of new finds for the area includes armoured and thick-headed plant eaters and fossilized freshwater fish and reptiles.

Miyashita says this small pocket of previously undiscovered life could have had interactions that lead to the evolution of new species.

"New dinosaurs weren't created by interbreeding," said Miyashita. "Having a variety of dinosaurs in one area creates new ecological interactions such as competition for food and predation.

"That can lead to the evolution of a new species."

One Grande Prairie dinosaur the researchers suspect is a new species is the Duck bill. Miyashita says unlike the Duck bill found further north in Alaska, the Grande Prairie has a visible bump or crest on its forehead. The pair will go back to Grande Prairie area in 2010 to focus on finding other dinosaur species in the area.

###

Miyashit and Fanti's work was published this month in Palaeogeoraphy, Palaeocilmatology, Palaeoecology. To arrange an interview with Tetsuto Miyashita or acquire artwork depicting the variety of dinosaurs in the Grande Prairie area please contact Brian Murphy.

[decimon]

Too Troo ping.

[rabscuttle385]

.

[decimon]

Just beginning that Morse code?

[mnehring]

bfltr

[Paladin2]

Save the dinosaurs, stop all mining.

Wait.........stop breathing, wait.....stop digging......wait,

I know, stop erosion! That's it, Stop Erosion Now!

[Dr. Sivana]

The school building in the Grande Prairie area is one weird looking piece. It was designed with the native culture in mind, so the exterior of the building avoids right angles.

Some wonderful people up there, though!

[decimon]

It was designed with the native culture in mind, so the exterior of the building avoids right angles.

They disliked right angles or had little use for them? I'd be more worried about resurgent Troodons.

[Dr. Sivana]

I'd be more worried about resurgent Troodons.

They'd likely be cold-blooded. Grande Prairie can easily get to be -40 degrees (either Fahrenheit or Centigrade), so I don't expect the Troodons to last too long.

[FroggyTheGremlim]

Troodons - then and ...?

[fanfan]

Thanks for the ping, Rabs.

[SunkenCiv]

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[xcamel]

Hmmm.. must be a moron.
“It established that dinosaurs were nesting at this high latitude”
except 73MYA, ‘Northern Alberta was nearer Kansas in “latitude”

[fanfan]

You’re so polite, Civ.

Hug, you’re welcome.

[decimon]

You’re so polite, Civ.

Hug, you’re welcome.

Would you two like some privacy?

[fanfan]

Would you two like some privacy?

Yes, just the two of us on the world wide web. LOL!

It's just nice that Civ takes the time to personally thanks everyone who pings him.

I am an epic fail at that, so I notice when someone takes the time.

Cindy does it too. :-)

[SunkenCiv]

It's just nice that Civ takes the time to personally thanks everyone who pings him.

;') It's a nicer web with you in it, fanfan. :')

[fanfan]

Thanks, Civ.

You too.

:-D

[Fred Nerks]

"It also shows for the first time a significant number of Troodons in the area [who] hunted hatchling dinosaurs."

because their teeth fell out? I don't believe it.

[Fred Nerks]

Cretaceous, 135-65 million years Troodon formosus. A tooth from the dinosaur Troodon formosus, 5/16 inch long. From the late Cretaceous (Judith River fm.) of north-central Montana.