The Decibel Fossil feud: Paleontologists have a bone to pick with new find
10 snips
Aug 22, 2025 Ivan Semeniuk, a science reporter for The Globe and Mail, delves into a captivating fossil discovery in Morocco that may represent a new species of mosasaur. This find has sparked a fierce debate among paleontologists regarding its authenticity, with skepticism coming especially from a team in Alberta. The discussion highlights the complexities of verifying fossil legitimacy amidst claims of forgery. Ivan also sheds light on the historical rivalries in paleontology and the implications of these controversies on scientific reputations.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Discovery From Moroccan Miners
- Miners in Moroccan phosphate beds found a small mosasaur jaw fragment that led researchers to propose a new species, Xenodens calmanicari.
- The described specimen is a single partial upper jaw with two teeth and represents the whole species in the original paper.
Name Reflects Odd Saw-Like Teeth
- The naming highlighted the fossil's unusual teeth: Xenodens calmanicari means "strange tooth" and likens the teeth to a saw.
- Authors suggested a scavenging adaptation based on those unique dental features.
Teeth Placement Raises Red Flags
- Critics noticed the teeth placement looked abnormal, suggesting two teeth per socket rather than one, which raised authenticity concerns.
- That dental oddity was a key reason the Alberta group doubted the fossil's validity.