In South Korea, a cheerful green cartoon dinosaur named Dooley, known for the two small tufts of hair on his head, has been popular for generations. So when scientists discovered a new species of young dinosaur on the island of Afe, the name came naturally. Durisaurus.
“Dooly is one of the very famous and iconic dinosaur characters in Korea. Every generation in Korea knows this character,” said Jeongyun Jeong, a visiting postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas Jackson School of Geosciences who led the study. “And because our specimen is also a juvenile, or ‘baby,’ it’s the perfect dinosaur species name to honor Dooley.”
First new species of dinosaur discovered in South Korea in 15 years
This discovery marks the first new species of dinosaur to be confirmed in South Korea in 15 years. This is also the first fossil in Japan that contains part of a dinosaur skull.
Initially, researchers only identified a few bones, including a leg and part of the spine. But micro-CT scans conducted at the University of Texas’ high-resolution X-ray computed tomography (UTCT) facility revealed much more hidden inside the rock, including skull fragments.
“When we first discovered the specimen, we could see that some leg bones and some vertebrae were preserved,” Jung said. “We didn’t expect to find part of the skull or even more bones. There was quite a bit of excitement when we saw what was hidden inside the blocks.”
meet Durisaurus humini
The species name has been officially decided Durisaurus humini. The second part of the name honors Korean paleontologist Min Ho’s decades of contributions to dinosaur research in Korea and his role in establishing the Korea Dinosaur Research Center and supporting UNESCO’s preservation of fossil remains.
The research results were published in a magazine fossil record The fossil itself was discovered in 2023 by co-author Haemin Jo.
what did baby dinosaurs look like
This young dinosaur was about 2 years old and still growing when it died. It is about the same size as a turkey, but adults of this species may have been twice as large. Scientists believe it may also have been covered in soft, fuzzy fibers.
“I think it would have been pretty cute,” said study co-author and Jackson School professor Julia Clark. “It might have looked a little like a lamb.”
CT scan reveals hidden details of fossils
Most of the fossils remain encased in hard rock and could take years to remove by hand. Instead, the researchers relied on micro-CT scans and were able to visualize the complete skeleton in just a few months.
Jung and Clark then spent more than a year studying the anatomy in detail with their collaborators. Clark noted that CT scans have become an essential method for studying delicate fossils, especially small dinosaurs and early birds trapped in solid rock.
Life in the Middle Cretaceous
Durisaurus They lived during the mid-Cretaceous period, approximately 113 million to 94 million years ago. Based on its characteristics, scientists placed it in the Thescelosauridae family, a group of two-legged dinosaurs found in East Asia and North America that may have had fuzzy skin.
The researchers confirmed that the fossil belonged to a juvenile by examining the growth pattern of the thinner part of the femur.
Diet tips from gastroliths
Scientists also found dozens of gastroliths, small stones swallowed by dinosaurs to help digest food, among the fossils. These stones suggest that the animal had an omnivorous diet that included plants, insects, and small animals.
The presence of these stones also prompted researchers to investigate further. Because the gastroliths are small and light, their intact placement indicated that much of the skeleton may still be preserved within the rock.
“The small chunk of bezoar with two leg bones sticking out indicates that this animal was not completely separated before it entered the fossil record,” Clark said. “So I encouraged[Jung and co-authors Minguk Kim and Hyemin Jo]to visit Texas and UTCT and scan the fossils.”
More discoveries may be hidden in the lock
Kim and Cho are now applying the CT scanning techniques they learned to other fossils in South Korea. Professor Chong also plans to return to Afe Island to search for additional specimens.
South Korea is well known for its fossilized dinosaur footprints, nests, and eggs, but actual dinosaur bones are relatively rare. Researchers believe many fossils may still be hidden within the rocks. Durisaurus.
Jung is optimistic that continued use of micro-CT technology will lead to more discoveries.
“We expect to find new dinosaur and other egg fossils from Afe and other small islands,” he said.
