Dinosaur Mummies Found with Horse-Like Hooves and Duck Bills

A recent study has revealed fascinating insights into the dinosaur Edmontosaurus annectens, showcasing unique features that include horse-like hooves and duck bills. This research, published in the journal Science, focuses on specimens discovered in Wyoming that have been preserved in a remarkable manner, providing a glimpse into a prehistoric world that existed over 66 million years ago.

These extraordinary fossils are part of what researchers are calling the “mummy zone,” a site where several well-preserved specimens have been found. Unlike typical dinosaur remains characterized by fossilized bones, the E. annectens mummies are encased in a thin layer of clay, offering a rare type of preservation that allows scientists to study details of their anatomy.

Uncovering the Mummification Process

The two notable specimens analyzed in the study include a juvenile around two years old and an early adult estimated to be between five to eight years old. Both were found in the Cretaceous-era Lance Formation. Paleontologists have noted that the bodies of these dinosaurs were remarkably outlined in sediment, a feature that sets them apart from typical fossil finds.

Researchers have determined that the preservation process occurred when a flash flood engulfed the dinosaurs, leading to a biofilm that pulled clay from surrounding sediment to cover their carcasses. While the organic materials eventually degraded, the clay formed a 3D template of the dinosaurs’ shapes. Senior author Paul Sereno, a paleontologist at the University of Chicago, described the clay layer as “so thin you could blow it away,” emphasizing its delicate nature and the unique circumstances that led to this form of preservation.

Unique Anatomical Features

Using advanced imaging techniques such as micro-CT scans and X-ray spectroscopy, researchers detailed several anatomical features of E. annectens. The dinosaur possessed a fleshy crest along its neck and trunk, transitioning into a row of spikes down its tail. Notably, the scales covering its body were small, measuring just 1 to 4 millimeters across, while wrinkles on the ribcage suggest they had thin skin.

Most striking, however, are the hooves of the E. annectens. The research team reconstructed the hooves using CT scans and compared them to 3D images of other duck-billed dinosaur footprints. Each of the three hind toes ended in a wedge-shaped hoof, akin to those of horses, marking a significant discovery in the evolution of hoofed animals. Sereno highlighted these findings, stating, “These duck-billed mummies preserve amazing ‘firsts’—the earliest hooves documented in a land vertebrate and the first confirmed hooved reptile.”

The significance of these findings extends beyond paleontology, offering insights into the evolution of terrestrial vertebrates and their adaptations to environmental changes. This research not only enhances our understanding of E. annectens but also raises questions about the broader implications of dinosaur preservation.

As the study continues to unfold, the discoveries from the “mummy zone” will likely contribute to future research, revealing more about the life and environment of these remarkable dinosaurs. The combination of unique anatomical features and rare preservation methods makes the Edmontosaurus annectens specimens a significant focus for ongoing paleontological study.