New Jurassic Giant Revealed: Fossil Skull Turns Out to Be a Completely New Species

A remarkable discovery has emerged from the archives of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History: a long-forgotten fossil skull has been identified as belonging to a new species of dinosaur, Athenar bermani. Published in Palaeontologia Electronica, the study not only reveals this new sauropod but also challenges old assumptions about the diversity of giant dinosaurs in North America.
Rediscovering a Dinosaur: A Forgotten Skull Leads to New Species
The story of Athenar bermani begins over a century ago, in 1913, when a fossilized skull fragment was uncovered at the Carnegie Quarry in Dinosaur National Monument, located in what is now eastern Utah. For many years, this skull was stored away in the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, never fully recognized for its significance. Assigned to Diplodocus, a well-known long-necked sauropod, it sat largely overlooked, gathering dust in museum archives. Little did researchers know, this fossil would ultimately lead to the identification of a completely new dinosaur species, Athenar bermani.
Recent research, led by Dr. John A. Whitlock, a paleontologist at Mount Aloysius College and Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and published Palaeontologia Electronica, in carefully revisited the fossil. By comparing it to numerous other skulls and using modern scientific techniques, Dr. Whitlock and his team confirmed that the skull did not belong to Diplodocus but rather to a previously unidentified sauropod. The discovery not only adds a new species to the dinosaur family tree but also reshapes our understanding of the evolutionary relationships among these giant creatures. As Dr. Whitlock notes,
“Carnegie Museum of Natural History houses some of the most important specimens for our understanding of diplodocoid sauropod cranial anatomy.”
What Makes Athenar Bermani Stand Out?
Unlike the iconic Diplodocus or Apatosaurus, Athenar bermani belongs to a rarer subgroup of sauropods known as dicraeosaurids. These dinosaurs were smaller in size, with shorter necks and distinctive tall spines along their backs. One of the key features that sets Athenar bermani apart is a tiny bony tooth located along a skull suture at the back of the head. This feature, which is not seen in other related species, helps to define the new dinosaur and illustrates its unique evolutionary path.
Further examination of the fossil revealed other distinct characteristics. The skull of Athenar bermani displays a mix of traits found in dicraeosaurids from distant regions, such as South America and China. For example, the braincase of Athenar bermani has peculiar openings in the bone roof, a feature that is uncommon in other sauropods from North America. These features suggest that this new species of sauropod followed a different evolutionary trajectory compared to its larger, long-necked relatives.
A Global Perspective on Dinosaur Evolution
The discovery of Athenar bermani is not just significant for its addition to North American paleontology but also for its implications on the global distribution of dicraeosaurids. Previously, dicraeosaurids were thought to be confined to regions like South America and parts of Africa. However, the presence of Athenar bermani in North America forces scientists to reconsider this assumption. The finding suggests that these smaller, more specialized sauropods were more widespread during the Late Jurassic than once believed.
This discovery broadens our understanding of the dynamics between different dinosaur groups during the Late Jurassic period. Athenar bermani provides crucial evidence that dicraeosaurids were not as isolated as initially thought. Instead, they were likely part of a much larger and more diverse ecosystem of herbivorous dinosaurs across the western United States during this time. As the study published in Palaeontologia Electronica reveals, this new fossil opens up new questions about the evolutionary adaptations of these fascinating creatures.
Reexamining Old Fossils: The Value of Museum Collections
The story of Athenar bermani underscores the importance of revisiting old fossil collections with fresh eyes and modern technology. Fossils that were once deemed unremarkable or misclassified can reveal entirely new species when subjected to new analytical techniques. In the case of Athenar bermani, the fossilized skull that had been part of the museum’s collection for over a century was eventually identified as belonging to a previously unknown dinosaur species. This process of reexamination is becoming an increasingly vital part of paleontological research.
Many museums around the world house fossil collections that were collected decades or even centuries ago. These specimens were often named and categorized based on the limited scientific knowledge and comparative tools available at the time. With advances in technology—such as digital imaging and enhanced anatomical surveys—scientists can now revisit these older fossils and extract new information. The case of Athenar bermani serves as a reminder that the work of understanding Earth’s ancient past is ongoing and that older specimens still have much to teach us.
A Monument to Jurassic Life
The fossil of Athenar bermani provides a glimpse into life during the Late Jurassic period, around 150 million years ago, when the Morrison Formation in western North America was home to a diverse array of dinosaurs. This region, with its rivers, floodplains, and patches of forest, was a bustling hub of dinosaur activity. The Morrison Formation is famous for its rich fossil deposits, which include plant-eating giants like Apatosaurus and Stegosaurus, as well as fearsome theropods like Allosaurus. The discovery of Athenar bermani adds to the growing body of evidence that this area was once home to a vast array of dinosaur species, many of which have yet to be fully understood.