ANTARCTICA — A bone fragment discovered in 1985 has been identified as the first dinosaur fossil found in Antarctica. Mark Evans, a paleontologist and head of geological collections at the British Antarctic Survey, identified the vertebra as originating from a titanosaur, a type of long-necked herbivorous sauropod.

The fossil was collected during a British Antarctic Survey expedition in 1985. It was initially categorized as belonging to a large reptile before Evans' identification decades later. The specific vertebra measures approximately 10 centimeters in diameter and is believed to have come from a juvenile or small adult titanosaur, estimated to have been between six and seven meters in length. Titanosaurs typically weighed 15 metric tons, though the largest known specimens could reach up to 37 meters in length and weigh around 63.5 metric tons.

Paul Barrett, an emeritus researcher at the Natural History Museum, stated, "At first glance it seems an unremarkable fossil, but it occupies an important place in the history of Antarctic exploration as the first dinosaur fossil found on the continent." Evans noted the unusual appearance of the fossil, which prompted his re-examination. He stated, "It looks unusual, I just needed to make sure it was what I thought it was."

The dinosaur lived approximately 82 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period. Barrett stated, "At the time this animal lived, we know that Antarctica would have been covered by a lush temperate forest that provided abundant food for large herbivores." He added, "It is likely that there are many more dinosaurs to be discovered on the continent. As climate change causes the ice to retreat, we may indeed find more evidence of this past biodiversity."

Roy Smith, a professor of vertebrate paleontology at the University of Portsmouth, stated, "Although this fossil is just a single vertebra, its importance is immense." Smith explained that the fossil provides critical evidence for understanding how dinosaurs dispersed across southern continents and demonstrates their presence on all seven continents, saying, "As the first dinosaur fossil discovered in Antarctica, it provides crucial evidence for understanding how dinosaurs dispersed across the southern continents and demonstrates that these extraordinary animals inhabited all continents of the Earth." He added, "It also highlights the enduring scientific value of carefully preserved museum collections, which continue to yield extraordinary discoveries decades after specimens were first collected."

An article detailing the discovery was published in the journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. This discovery provides the first direct evidence of dinosaurs, specifically titanosaur sauropods, inhabiting Antarctica. It expands the understanding of dinosaur distribution across continents during the Late Cretaceous period, when Antarctica was part of the supercontinent Gondwana. The finding suggests that these large herbivores were able to thrive in the region's then-temperate forest environment. The identification, which occurred decades after the fossil's initial collection and storage, demonstrates the ongoing scientific value of historic museum collections. It also opens the possibility for future paleontological discoveries in Antarctica as environmental changes lead to the retreat of ice, potentially revealing more past biodiversity.