Illustration H Piceanus by Brian Engh(MI/Doc Utah Field House of Natural History)
Paleontologists have discovered fossils of a new prehistoric mammal species in Colorado, United States (US), which lived in swamps during the time of the dinosaurs. This discovery suggests some ancient mammals were larger than previously thought.
A team of paleontologists near Rangely, Colorado has discovered fossils of a mammal roughly the size of a muskrat, which likely scurried around in a swamp during the time of the Dinosaurs.
The researchers, led by Jaelyn Eberle from the University of Colorado Boulder, published their findings in the journal PLOS ONE some time ago.
Quoted from scitechdaily, Eberle and his colleagues named their discovery Heleocola piceanus, which was identified from a piece of jaw bone and three molars.
The animal lived in Colorado about 70 to 75 million years ago, a time when a vast inland sea covered much of the American West.
The word ‘Heleocola’ itself is translated from Latin and means ‘dweller of the swamp’.
“Colorado is a great place to find fossils, but mammals from this time period tend to be quite rare. “So, it’s amazing to see this piece of time preserved in Colorado,” Eberle said as quoted by Scitechdaily.
Compared to much larger dinosaurs of the time, the new fossils discovered in Colorado appear small. However, the fossil turned out to be very large for a mammal from the time of the dinosaurs.
“The town is small, but, in my experience as a paleontologist, a lot of interesting things emerge from its rural surroundings. It’s great to see western Colorado have such an interesting discovery,” Eberle said.
The importance of discovery
The exciting discovery helps paint a more complete picture of Colorado that residents may not recognize today.
Paleontologists John Foster and ReBecca Hunt-Foster, have been coming to this part of the country to dig for fossils every summer for about 15 years.
Seventy million years ago, this place was where land met water. Here, creatures like turtles, duck-billed dinosaurs, and giant crocodiles have thrived in the surrounding swamps and estuaries, and devoured wetland plants, fish, and more.
“The area might look like Louisiana. “We saw many animals living happily in the water, such as sharks, rays and guitar fish,” said ReBecca Hunt-Foster as quoted by Scitechdaily.
Eberle explained that before an asteroid killed the non-avian dinosaurs, 66 million years ago, mammals tended to be small. Most were the size of today’s rats or mice.
H. piceanus in comparison is considered very large. Eberle estimates the animal, a cousin of today’s marsupials, weighed 2 pounds or more and was larger than most Late Cretaceous mammals.
Based on the teeth of H. piceanus, the mammal likely ate plants with some insects or other small animals mixed in.
While dinosaurs get all the glory, this new discovery is another reason why paleontologists shouldn’t ignore ancient mammals. Small or not, they played an important role in Colorado’s Late Cretaceous ecosystem. (Z-1)
Heleocola piceanus: A Tiny Revelation from the Cretaceous Swamps
So, gather round, dear readers! Paleontologists have just stumbled upon a remarkable fossil discovery in Colorado, US, and it’s not your average dinosaur find. No, no, this time it’s all about a little mammal that could’ve easily been a muskrat’s cousin that fancied a swim through the swamps of the Cretaceous period. Talk about a family reunion!
Led by the ever-passionate Jaelyn Eberle from the University of Colorado Boulder, this team decided to dig where few mammals dared to tread. What did they find? A new species they aptly named Heleocola piceanus, which translates – give it a moment – to ‘dweller of the swamp’. It has an elegant ring to it, right? Imagine saying that at dinner parties while sipping some overpriced wine!
Now, you may be thinking, “A swamp-dwelling mammal from the time of dinosaurs? That sounds utterly bonkers!” But wait! This little beastie lived between 70 and 75 million years ago, when Colorado was less about Coors beer and more about vast inland seas. Picture it now: Turtles, duck-bills, and yes, giant crocodiles, all living in a prehistoric wetland party, while Heleocola piceanus nibbled on plants and maybe a bug or two. Delightful culinary tastes for an ancient rodent!
The Significance of This Discovery
For all those who think dinosaurs are the glamorous lynchpins of the prehistoric world, here’s a plot twist: mammals were around too and were playing their own critical roles. The discovery of H. piceanus suggests that ancient mammals may have been larger than we initially thought. This little fella isn’t just a cute addition to history—at an estimated two pounds, it may not be a T-Rex but certainly was the heavyweight champion among its mammalian peers. Consider it a small, furry giant in the cosmos of mud-dwellers!
The paleontologist, Eberle, expressed the thrill of discovering such a rare specimen. “Mammals from this time period tend to be quite rare,” she said, sounding a bit like someone who just found the last piece of chocolate cake at a party. And who could blame her? Each summer, she and her colleague, ReBecca Hunt-Foster, dig into the rich geological history of the area, unearthing treasures that tell of a time when scary-looking dinosaurs roamed the earth while this cheeky little fellow was busy chowing down on swamp veggies.
And let’s not miss the big picture here, folks—the world we think we know today might barely whisper the tales of these tiny ancient mammals. About 66 million years ago, when the asteroid showered down like cosmic confetti, most of these little guys were the size of today’s rats or mice, just trying to survive the prehistoric hangover and barely making headlines. But now, thanks to modern science and a good pair of digging tools, we’ve unmasked an incredible chapter that puts the spotlight right on their furry little faces.
For all the fossil enthusiasts out there, don’t let the dinosaur bandwagon overshadow our less ‘glorious’ friends. Because if H. piceanus taught us anything, it’s that sometimes the biggest surprises come wrapped in the smallest packages—kind of like that one unforgettable hug you get from your grandma that somehow makes you feel ten feet tall.
Illustration H Piceanus by Brian Engh(MI/Doc Utah Field House of Natural History)
Paleontologists have unveiled remarkable fossils of a newly identified prehistoric mammal species in Colorado, United States (US). This ancient creature thrived in swampy environments during the age of dinosaurs, revealing that some early mammals were significantly larger than previously believed.
A dedicated team of paleontologists, operating near Rangely, Colorado, made the groundbreaking discovery of fossilized remains from a mammal approximately the size of a muskrat, which likely navigated the swamp landscapes during the reign of dinosaurs.
Under the leadership of Jaelyn Eberle from the University of Colorado Boulder, the findings were published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE, providing valuable insights into prehistoric life.
Quoted from scitechdaily, researchers named their new find Heleocola piceanus, based on a piece of jaw bone and three distinct molars. This species thrived in the Colorado region about 70 to 75 million years ago during a period when a vast inland sea enveloped much of the American West.
The term ‘Heleocola’ is derived from Latin, signifying ‘dweller of the swamp’, aptly describing its habitat.
“While Colorado is known for its rich fossil finds, mammals from the Late Cretaceous epoch are exceptionally rare,” Eberle remarked. “It’s truly astonishing to uncover this snapshot of history preserved in the rock formations of Colorado,” he added.
Although the new fossils may seem small in comparison to the colossal dinosaurs roaming the earth at that time, they are indeed substantial for mammals of the Cretaceous period.
The importance of discovery
This thrilling discovery enriches our understanding of Colorado’s prehistoric ecosystem, much of which is unknown to modern residents. Paleontologists John Foster and ReBecca Hunt-Foster have devoted their summers for roughly 15 years to excavating fossils in this area.
Seventy million years ago, this region was a dynamic interface between land and water, where diverse life flourished. It was a habitat for turtles, duck-billed dinosaurs, and formidable crocodiles, all thriving in the lush swamps and estuaries that characterized the environment.
“The landscape would have resembled modern-day Louisiana, with a wealth of aquatic life including sharks, rays, and guitar fish,” noted ReBecca Hunt-Foster.
Eberle further explained that prior to the catastrophic asteroid event that eradicated non-avian dinosaurs 66 million years ago, mammals predominantly occupied smaller ecological niches, often no larger than today’s rats or mice. However, H. piceanus stands out as an exception, estimated to weigh over 2 pounds and significantly larger than most of its contemporaneous relatives.
The dental structure of H. piceanus indicates a herbivorous diet, supplemented by occasional consumption of insects or other small animals. This discovery exemplifies the ecological importance of ancient mammals, demonstrating that despite their diminutive size, these organisms played a pivotal role in the Late Cretaceous ecosystem of Colorado.
Rocks of western Colorado.” The discovery of *Heleocola piceanus* not only enhances our understanding of the diversity of prehistoric life, but also underscores the role that small mammals played in ancient ecosystems, particularly in areas that we now know as swamps and wetlands.
The fossilized remains shed light on what life was like millions of years ago, painting a vivid picture of a landscape teeming with both aquatic and terrestrial creatures. With *H. piceanus* likely feeding on lush vegetation and small invertebrates, it’s clear that these early mammals occupied a unique ecological niche, feeding on resources that would have been plentiful in their wet environment.
The fossil evidence suggests that mammals during this time were generally small, typically not exceeding the size of modern-day rodents, which makes the approximately two-pound estimate for *H. piceanus* particularly intriguing. This finding challenges previous assumptions about the size and diversity of mammals during the Late Cretaceous period, hinting that there were exceptions to the rule even among early species.
Eberle and her team are keen to continue exploring the fossil-rich sites of Colorado, hoping to discover more about the complex interactions that took place in these ancient ecosystems. As paleontology progresses, each new fossil find, especially from periods where mammals were relatively rare, adds an essential piece to the puzzle of Earth’s biological history.
So, the next time someone mentions dinosaurs, don’t forget to give a nod to our furry little friends from the past. As the discovery of *Heleocola piceanus* shows, they too had their place in a world dominated by giants, laying the groundwork for the diverse mammalian life we see today.
