A direct association between amber and dinosaur remains provides paleoecological insights

Ryan C Mckellar,Emma Jones,Karlis Muehlenbachs,Eva B Koppelhus,Ralf Tappert,Michael S Engel,Philip J Currie,Alexander P Wolfe,Pierre Cockx

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-54400-x

Abstract

Hadrosaurian dinosaurs were abundant in the Late Cretaceous of North America, but their habitats remain poorly understood. Cretaceous amber is also relatively abundant, yet it is seldom found in direct stratigraphic association with dinosaur remains. Here we describe an unusually large amber specimen attached to a Prosaurolophus jaw, which reveals details of the contemporaneous paleoforest and entomofauna. Fourier-transform Infrared spectroscopy and stable isotope composition (H and C) suggest the amber formed from resins exuded by cupressaceous conifers occupying a coastal plain. An aphid within the amber belongs to Cretamyzidae, a Cretaceous family suggested to bark-feed on conifers. Distinct tooth row impressions on the amber match the hadrosaur’s alveolar bone ridges, providing some insight into the taphonomic processes that brought these remains together.

Highlights

Hadrosaurian dinosaurs were abundant in the Late Cretaceous of North America, but their habitats remain poorly understood
Dinosaur and resin fossils are abundant in the Late Cretaceous of western Canada, they are rarely associated, because conditions for their preservation differ
The dentary was identified as belonging to the hadrosaur Prosaurolophus maximus Brown, which is consistent with the known stratigraphic ranges of hadrosaurs within the region

Summary

Introduction

Hadrosaurian dinosaurs were abundant in the Late Cretaceous of North America, but their habitats remain poorly understood. Dinosaur and resin fossils are abundant in the Late Cretaceous of western Canada, they are rarely associated, because conditions for their preservation differ. Preparation revealed an exceptionally large mass of amber (~300 g), tightly adpressed to the alveolar bone, near the anterior margin of the lingual surface. This is one of the largest amber specimens documented from the Late Cretaceous of western Canada. It provides both an insect inclusion and details on the habitat and taphonomy of the hadrosaur. Observations of the hadrosaur bone and amber mass tie these details to the taphonomic events that created the association

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Results

Conclusion