An unusual discovery comes from South Korea: a juvenile dinosaur fossil has just been named in tribute to a very popular local cartoon character.
At the origin of this find on Aphae Island are researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and the Korea Dinosaur Research Center. They chose the name
Doolysaurus for this small dinosaur, referring to Dooly, a mischievous green dinosaur known to all generations in South Korea. Furthermore, the specimen is also a young individual, making the reference all the more appropriate. This identification constitutes the first new dinosaur species discovered in the country in fifteen years.
Artistic interpretation of a juvenile Doolysaurus huhmini, alongside birds and other dinosaurs from the Cretaceous in present-day South Korea.
Credit: Jun Seong Yi
The interest of this fossil lies in the use of a cutting-edge imaging technique. While a large portion of the bones was still trapped in very hard rock, micro-CT tomography made it possible to reveal the complete anatomy in just a few months. This approach exposed elements of the skull, a first for a Korean fossil, as well as many other bone structures that were not visible to the naked eye. The analysis was carried out at a specialized facility at the University of Texas.
Aged about two years at the time of its death, the specimen was the size of a turkey. Scientists estimate it was likely covered in fine down. Its anatomy places it among the thescelosaurids, a group of bipedal dinosaurs found in East Asia and North America. The study of thin bone sections confirmed its young age and its state of growth at the time of death.
Examination of the fossil also revealed the presence of numerous gastroliths, small rocks swallowed to aid digestion. This observation indicates the animal had a mixed diet, including plants, insects, and small animals. The intact arrangement of these stones, light and easily movable, suggests that other parts of the skeleton could be preserved inside the rock block, paving the way for future analysis.
This technical advance opens up prospects for paleontology in South Korea. The researchers involved are now applying the scanning methods learned in Texas to examine other local fossils. While the country is best known for its dinosaur footprints and nests, the discovery of
Doolysaurus indicates that more complete skeletons could be hiding in the rock formations.
Scientists anticipate that the systematic use of tomography will lead to the identification of new specimens on Aphae Island and in other regions.
Skeletal anatomy of the juvenile Doolysaurus huhmini, with the fossilized bones found highlighted.
Credit: Janet Cañamar, adapted from Jung et al. 2026.
The official description of
Doolysaurus huhmini was published in the journal
Fossil Record. The second name,
huhmini, pays tribute to Korean paleontologist Min Huh for his work spanning several decades.
Thescelosaurids, little-known dinosaurs
This family of ornithischian dinosaurs, mostly herbivorous and bipedal, lived during the Cretaceous, mainly in what is now East Asia and western North America. Their size was generally modest, often compared to that of a large dog or a small antelope. Their physical appearance is still a matter of debate today.
Some discoveries, like that of
Doolysaurus, indicate that several members of this group could have been covered in filamentous structures, resembling down.
Their diet appears to have been diverse. The presence of gastroliths is typical of animals that consume tough plant matter. Furthermore, a particular dental morphology in some species also suggests a possible consumption of insects or small invertebrates.