150M-year-old vomit found in Utah offers ‘rare glimpse’ into prehistoric ecosystems – KSL.com
Scientists have made a revolutionary discovery through an unlikely method- fossilized vomit. Paleontologists found the fossil of multiple amphibians that were likely vomited by a fish millions of years ago in rocks of the Morrison Formation in southern Utah, according to a news release from Utah State Parks.
A pile of amphibian bones was discovered in southeast Utah that paleontologists believe to have been puked out by some sort of predator 150 million years ago. The Morrison Formation in southeast Utah is known for its dinosaur bones, but scientists have also found amphibians and bowfin fish there. They believe the region was once home to either a pond or a small lake.
A team of scientists discovered an oddly arranged fossil in the Morrison Formation of North America that may have been the remains of a small frog or tadpole. It’s not clear what killed the species within the regurgitalite, but bowfin fish are the current suspect.
The vomited fossil possibly indicates that there were at least two frogs present, along with “at least one salamander,” Utah State Parks said.
A team of paleontologists discovered a 151 million-year-old water bug at the site where prehistoric vomit was discovered. They plan to continue searching the site for more evidence of the region’s past ecosystem.
To learn more about this discovery, please consider the news outlets listed below to stay in the know.
- 150M-year-old vomit found in Utah offers ‘rare glimpse’ into prehistoric ecosystems KSL.com
- Fossil of vomited-up amphibians offers ‘rare glimpse’ into ancient life, Utah park says Hilton Head Island Packet
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150M-year-old vomit found in Utah offers ‘rare glimpse’ into prehistoric ecosystems Flipboard
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150M-year-old vomit found in Utah offers ‘rare glimpse’ into prehistoric ecosystems Head Topics
- 150M-year-old vomit found in Utah offers ‘rare glimpse’ into prehistoric ecosystems Newsbreak