The Decibel Fossil feud: Paleontologists have a bone to pick with new find
May 30, 2025
Ivan Semeniuk, science reporter for The Globe, dives into the intriguing world of paleontology as he discusses a fascinating fossil discovery in Morocco believed to be a new mosasaur species. He unpacks the controversy surrounding its authenticity, highlighting the unusual tooth structure that has some scientists questioning its legitimacy. Semeniuk also touches on the rivalries within the paleontological community and the critical nature of provenance in fossil finding, painting a vivid picture of science's ongoing debates.
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Frequency of New Species Discovery
- Discovering new extinct species is common due to constant species evolution and diversity.
- The challenge is differentiating new species from variations of known ones.
Unique Teeth Define New Species
- The mosasaur fossil named Xenodens calmanicari is unique mainly for its strange saw-like teeth.
- The discovery is based on just a small jaw fragment with two teeth, representing the whole species.
Teeth Anomalies Spark Skepticism
- Skepticism arose due to unusual features like two teeth per socket seen in fossil photos.
- These anomalies raised doubts about the fossil's authenticity among paleontologists in Alberta.