Whether a dinosaur enthusiast or a curious mind, the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles is about to showcase an extraordinary exhibit that will captivate both. “Gnatalie,” a giant dinosaur skeleton characterized by her size and unusually green bones, was found in Bluff, Utah in 2007. This 150-million-year-old specimen may even be a whole new species!
A Bone To Pick
Like most Thanksgiving dinners, it started with the sighting of a single leg bone that soon turned into a major excavation that lasted nine summers. Below the surface, a research team from the Natural History Museum discovered a plethora of dinosaur bones that had been puzzled together by ancient rivers. Among them was Gnatalie, a nearly complete sauropod skeleton unlike any other.
One of a Kind Celebrity
While Gnatalie shares characteristics with other well-known sauropods like the Brontosaurus and Brachiosaurus, scientists believe she may represent a new species altogether. A skeleton the paleontological community is excited to add to their closet! Further research is needed to confirm this, but Gnatalie disturbing the dust as a potential new member of the dinosaur family tree.
Not Green With Envy
The unusual green color of her bones makes Gnatalie a true oddball among the other dinosaur skeletons roaming our museums. Despite being a herbivore it’s not because she ate too many vegetables! During the fossilization process, the bones absorbed a mineral called celadonite, which gave the skeleton its distinct green hue. This transformation occurred millions of years ago, likely due to volcanic activity in the region providing scientists with valuable information about the geological history of the area. The presence of this mineral in fossils is extremely rare! In fact, Gnatalie owns the title of being the only green-boned dinosaur on display anywhere on Earth.
Her Place in Prehistory
Gnatalie lived around 150 million years ago, during the late Jurassic period. This makes her much older than the famous Tyrannosaurus rex, which lived approximately 66 million years ago. Back in her day, Gnatalie would have been among the biggest herbivores on the planet!
What a Nickname
Excavating Gnatalie took some tough mental shovels. The dig site, located near a little town in Utah, presented numerous challenges. Relentless swarms of gnats that bugged researchers endlessly earned this fossil the nickname “Gnatalie”. I see a missed opportunity for Sherk-a-saurous, but let me know what name you would’ve picked in the comments!
Putting Gnatalie Back Together Again
After days spent on painstakingly careful excavation, the team was left with one of the most complete sauropod skeletons on the West Coast. Reconstruction meant putting together an over 75-foot-long skeleton that weighs around five tons. Even your expert Lego builders would have struggled with this one! Luckily the team had Blacksmiths Nevin Dallman and Brian Ross to make the steel framework that would support the massive bones. And the final result was nothing short of spectacular!
Gnatalie’s New Life
The crowning moment of our green queen’s reconstruction came when technician Kevin Krudwig tenderly placed the skull on the completed skeleton. It marked the end of a long and complex process to bring Gnatalie back to life. At least in a museum setting. A scene that we can all see very soon.
In Action in LA
Gnatalie will be on display at the Natural History Museum’s new welcome center in Los Angeles starting November 17, 2024. Gnatalie’s striking green complexion, combined with her riverborn backstory, makes her a must-see for anyone interested in dino history. So the museum is hoping to see a lot of interest in the exhibit. Visitors will be able to enjoy the green-boned dinosaur up close and prehistoric personal. The best part is you don’t even need to buy a ticket!
Educating to Inspire
The senior vice president for research and collections at the museum, Dr. Luis Chiappe was vital for the research and reconstruction of Gnatalie. In his opinion Dinosaurs are valuable resources for scientific education. It allows the museum to ignite curiosity and astonishment about the natural world by engaging its visitors through Gnatalie. Her green bones mark a gateway into what some might consider lost Jurassic Park history.
In short
From her discovery in the Badlands of Utah to her upcoming debut at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles, green has always been Gnatalie’s color. With her ginormous size, green bones, and potential status as a new species, she is sure to be a star attraction. Don’t pass up the opportunity to see her if you’re in LA this fall!
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