Dig This, New Dinosaur Discovered in Montana

Dig this- a new dinosaur was discovered here in Montana. It was announced recently in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. Thankfully, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks broke down the report into simple English for us.

Dino digs and dino discoveries are certainly always met with excitement here in Montana. Just take a simple road trip across Central and Eastern Montana and you will see many towns proud of the dinosaur museums and the jurassic discoveries parked in their own backyards

Montana FWP recently highlighted this discovery with a press release and a report on their website, where they also noted how FWP supports this type of research on state park lands as well.

So what's the news?

"Earlier this fall, paleontologists from the Museum of the Rockies announced the identification of a new species of dome-headed dinosaur, Brontotholus harmoni, from the Two Medicine Formation in western Montana. Dating to approximately 75 million years ago, this compact 10-foot-long pachycephalosaur represents the first of its kind documented in that geologic unit, an exciting addition to the diverse cast of dinosaurs that once roamed the Late Cretaceous landscape of the northern Great Plains."

FWP notes that the Two Medicine Formation has been studied for decades, but this new discovery underscores how much we still have to learn.

"Pachycephalosaurs are known for their thick, domed skulls, and researchers believe these structures may have played roles in display, species recognition or intraspecific combat. The new find contributes to a clearer picture of how regional ecosystems changed as the Western Interior Seaway receded and upland environments expanded. Even in an area as heavily investigated as Montana, discoveries like this demonstrate that our landscapes continue to yield meaningful scientific insights."

While this particular specimen was not found on FWP-managed land, they noted how FWP has a close relationship with the Museum of the Rockies in partnering with them on their research.

"The Museum of the Rockies also serves as the official repository for significant paleontological remains recovered from FWP lands. Many of the specimens that visitors admire in their galleries, ranging from hadrosaurs to tyrannosaurs, were originally excavated from properties we manage."

If you want to read the formal description of Brontotholus harmoni was published earlier this month, click here: Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.