Rare Discovery of New Abelisaurid Dinosaur Species (100-Million-Years Old) in France

Paleontologists are digging into the new dinosaur species found in Normandy, France. This 100 million-year-old predator, Caletodraco cottardi, lived during the Early Cretaceous period during Europe’s history. The discovery offers new insights into how dinosaurs lived and moved across ancient Europe. Let’s dive into the secrets the Normandy countryside holds.

Not So Normal Day In Normandy

The Chalk cliffs at Saint-Jouin-Bruneval (Seine-Maritime, Normandy, France). Image by E. Buffetaut, H. Tong, J. Girard, B. Hoyez & J. Párraga, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The fossil was found in Normandy’s Pays de Caux region by paleontologist Nicolas Cottard. He uncovered two blocks of bones at the foot of Saint-Jouin-Bruneval’s sea cliffs. Typically, only fish teeth are found here, so seeing bones was a big surprise.

Early Cretaceous Abelisaurid

Life reconstruction of Caletodraco cottardi. Image by Ddinodan, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Caletodraco cottardi lived around during the Cenomanian age of the Early Cretaceous. Back then Europe, much like Atlantis, was underwater. The only land masses nearby were places like the Armorican Massif. This dinosaur probably roamed the land before its body was washed into the sea. This fossil tells us a lot about the ancient environment of Europe.

The Caletodraco Cottardi Clan

Hypothetical reconstruction of the Late Cretaceous abelisaurid Elemgasem nubilus.. Image by Путаниум, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This new species belongs to a group of dinosaurs called Furileusauria. In fact, Caletodraco cottardi is one of the oldest known members of Furileusauria. These dinos form part of a subgroup of abelisaurids. Abelisaurids were meat-eating, two-legged predators known for their strong skulls and short arms. It’s kind of like a prehistoric bulldog!

Southern Bell Abelisaurids

Gondwana breakup, A- Early Cretaceous, B- Late Cretaceous. Image by Brownfield, M.E., and Schenk, C.J., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The discovery also uncovered a hidden connection between continents. Until now, these dinosaurs were mostly found in South America, but this discovery shows they also lived in Europe. According to Dr. Eric Buffetaut of PSL Research University and his colleagues, the solitary species Abelisaurus comahuensis, a big carnivorous dinosaur from the Campanian of Patagonia, was first included when the family Abelisauridae was established in 1985. However, Abelisaurids were first found in the southern supercontinent Gondwana. This continent was made up of today’s South America, Africa, and Madagascar.

A Unique Chalk Formation

Shark tooth fossil — Shark tooth (probably lamniform) associated with the bones of ”Caletodraco cottardi” in block in Pays de Caux. Image by E. Buffetaut, H. Tong, J. Girard, B. Hoyez & J. Párraga, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The fossil was found in a marine chalk deposit that is well-known for harboring marine life like fish. But a shark tooth found near the dinosaur bones supports the idea that this land was once underwater. This rare find is a needle in the haystack of marine deposits. It suggests that more careful searching might even yield more exciting discoveries.

How The Dinosaur Found Its Sealegs

Holotype specimen of Caletodraco cottardi. in dorsal (A,A’): ns: fused neural spines of sacral vertebrae, li: left ilium, tpc: transverse process of first caudal vertebra; tps: transverse processes of sacral vertebrae. Image by E. Buffetaut, H. Tong, J. Girard, B. Hoyez & J. Párraga, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Scientists believe the Caletodraco cottardi fossil walked the seafloor after its death. Like a leaf carried by the stream, the dinosaur’s body was swept away by a river. It took a journey of over 62 miles from the nearest land into the sea waves. Maybe one of the only dinosaurs to ever experience a water slide! Eventually, the carcass sank to the ocean floor, destined to be preserved in marine sediments.

Scuba Dino Rescue

Holotype specimen of Caletodraco cottardi left lateral (B,B’): ai: anterior wing of ilium, cv: centrum of first caudal vertebra, d: depression, dmi: dorsal margin of ilium, li: left ilium; ns: fused neural spines of sacral vertebrae, pdp: posterodorsal process of ilium, tpc: transverse process of first caudal vertebra, tps: transverse processes of sacral vertebrae. Image by E. Buffetaut, H. Tong, J. Girard, B. Hoyez & J. Párraga, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Talk about a lucky break for science! If it weren’t for paleontologist Nicolas Cottard’s eagle eyes, this fossil might still be blowing bubbles below sea level. This discovery is a game-changer. It is fundamentally altering our understanding of dinosaur life in Europe. I guess sometimes all it takes is a great deal of patience with a dash of luck.

Reviewing Previous Finds

Holotype specimen of Caletodraco cottardi ventral (C,C’): bf: brevis fossa, cv: centrum of first caudal vertebra, li: left ilium, s: sacrum. Image by E. Buffetaut, H. Tong, J. Girard, B. Hoyez & J. Párraga, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The dinosaur world was shaken by the discovery of Caletodraco cottardi. Based on the new evidence, other species of abelisaurids might have lived in Europe as well. Paleontologists have been prompted to put on their detective hats and take a fresh look at previous abelisaurid fossil finds in Europe. Old fossils that were once thought to be unimportant, may hold more significance now. It’s sure to ignite a new era of dinosaur curiosity in European history students!

Key Players of The Cretaceous Ecosystem

Abelisaurus & Lohuecotitan models at Castilla-La Mancha Paleontological Museum (Cuenca, Spain). Image by PePeEfe, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Abelisaurids were apex predators during the Cretaceous period. They ruled the food chains of many regions. Their reign ensured plant life wasn’t overgrazed by the lawnmower-like herbivores since Abelisaurids kept populations in check. You’d think their short, often reduced arms would pose a problem, but it didn’t play a major role in their hunting strategy. With their powerful jaws and pointed teeth, abelisaurids were incredibly well-suited for hunting.

New Digs Up Paleontologist Sleeves

Abelisaurus comahuensis, an abelisaur from the late Cretaceous of Argentina, pencil drawing. Iameg by Nobu Tamura (http://spinops.blogspot.com), CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Paleontologists are feeling pretty pumped about Normandy’s dinosaur potential. It turns out, land-dwelling dinosaurs were probably more common there than we thought. So, get ready for a wave of new dino finds! Paleontologists are using all sorts of tricks to dig up more fossils. They’re even considering new methods for excavating in chalk formations.

In short

Gigantosaurus vs. t-rex — An imagined scene of a T-Rex looking out over the same ocean that we look at today. Image via Pixabay

Abelisaurid dinosaurs were way more common in Europe than we thought. As we learn more about this amazing find and others, we’ll get a better picture of how dinosaurs traveled in prehistoric Europe. It’s time to challenge our old ideas about how they evolved. So stay tuned dinosaur fans, this is just the beginning!