In Big Bend National Park in Texas, geology students uncovered a rare fossil belonging to one of North America's largest dinosaurs. This discovery revives the study of a little-known giant from the Cretaceous period.
Under the guidance of two teacher-researchers, Jesse Kelsch and Thomas Shiller, this expedition was initially aimed at analyzing rock formations but ultimately turned into the recovery of an Alamosaurus vertebra. This sauropod, measuring 69 feet (21 meters) long and 23 feet (7 meters) tall, and weighing up to 25 tons, dominated North American landscapes 70 million years ago.
An iconic yet little-known species
Alamosaurus is the largest land dinosaur identified on the continent, even surpassing the famous Tyrannosaurus rex. However, its fossils remain rare and often fragmented, complicating its study.
The discovered specimen comes from a partially excavated skeleton in the 1970s by researchers from the University of Texas. Unlike most bones found in the region, this one is remarkably well-preserved.
The vertebrae collected by the Sul Ross State University team are already under analysis. This new piece could complete the anatomical puzzle of this herbivorous titan.
Fossil excavation - Sul Ross State University Big Bend, an exceptional fossil site
Big Bend National Park is renowned for its paleontological discoveries. Besides Alamosaurus, it has yielded fossils of giant pterosaurs and unique horned dinosaurs, such as Bravoceratops.
The Upper Cretaceous geological formations here are particularly rich, offering a glimpse into prehistoric biodiversity. The students targeted these sedimentary layers for their stratigraphic analyses.
This expedition highlights the importance of fieldwork in training future paleontologists. It also helps document a key species from the end of the dinosaur era.
Article author: Cédric DEPOND