A rare dinosaur fossil from Antarctica is found tucked away in a drawer

Key Points:

• Scientists have identified a rare dinosaur fossil from Antarctica, specifically a tail bone belonging to a titanosaur, a long-necked, plant-eating dinosaur, though the exact species remains unknown.
• The fossil was originally discovered in 1985 on James Ross Island by geologist Mike Thomson during a British Antarctic Survey expedition but was only recently recognized as dinosaurian by paleontologist Mark Evans.
• Dinosaur fossils are uncommon in Antarctica due to ice coverage, but millions of years ago, the region was covered in lush forests, providing a hospitable environment for such creatures.
• The dinosaur was approximately 23 feet long, relatively small for titanosaurs, possibly indicating it was a juvenile; its fossilization likely occurred after its body floated out to sea and sank.
• Advances in technology have enabled more detailed analysis of the fossil, and although Thomson passed away in 2020, researchers believe he would have been pleased with the discovery.