These Are The Coolest Fossils From 2023

It's that time of year where we round up all our favorite science discoveries of the year, and today, we're talking fossils. From a wild mosasaur with screwdriver teeth, to glittery gold fossils, and even a mammal-versus-reptile fight to the death that ended with a volcanic eruption, let's chat about all the sickest fossils from 2023.

Hosted by: Reid Reimers
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References:

Long neck

Dinocephalia

Larynx

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[vectorwolf]

Regarding the mosasaur... when you see that kind of star shaped cross section in medieval weaponry, it's something intended specifically to pierce mail or plate armor. I think this speaks to a predator with a diet comprised of prey with heavy scales or bony plating, rather than an actual shell. I know there are plenty of armored fish in the record, so I'd look for those in the same strata as your mosasaur.

[therongjr]

I was disappointed that you didn't elaborate what kind of dinosaur and mammal were locked in mortal combat in the last segment. (They were a psittacosaurid and gobiconodontid, by the way!)

[Roope]

Odd, usually we have fossils from millions of years ago!

[outistynnanyt]

My thought for the "screwdriver teeth" is that maybe it was used as a wedge? Not for hard-bodied organisms, but maybe "tough bodied" that could have benefited from being split apart, but not shredded???

[lethargogpeterson]

Can we call that screwdriver toothed mosasaur Ikeasaurus in honor of the furniture they (almost certainly) did not assemble?

[robmann]

Screwdriver Toothed Mosasaurs used their unique teeth to pick up small cubes of ice which they needed whenever feeding because their diet mainly consisted of vodka and orange juice.

You’re welcome!

[ravenwolf]

Love the fossils! Hope they get to reconstruct some dino calls and create a more realistic immersive experience visuals matched with sounds--a whole chorus from various parts of the Mesozoic. Wish we could glimpse through a time machine....

[sharendonnelly]

Phillips head tooth structure in the mosasaur appears to be a combination adaptation of crushing and gripping. Perhaps there existed an organism, like a nautilus or ammonite, that had a relatively light shell yet chewy center? The specialized tooth structure could have allowed the mosasaur to chomp into the shell and dispatch it while gripping the meaty portion to consume. My humble thoughts only, hoping to see other ideas on this one.

[stax]

Man, I love Ankylosaurus. But I gotta say the most Epic fight to me is the fossil find in Jurassic Fight-Club between an and Utah Raptor. Real cool.
Go little mammal though.

[areallyshortbrontothere]

As a fossilized animal, I approve this list

[pin]

With the Mammal vs Dino punching above their weight is a well established Mammal thing . Ever hear of Mustelids ?!?! I bet a Fisher could mess a small dino up REAL good . By small, I a Sauropod :P

[werty]

That screwdriver shape is a spudger. It's a shape used to separate two hard parts which are held together with interlocking or adhesive pull.

[BallisticDamages]

Just got back from my local disused quarry and found some nice vancouverensis fossils. Still hoping to find a nice Ammonite or something. Wish I could find something even 1/100th as awesome as these fossils though haha

[rickseiden]

I'm asking this out of ignorance, and not to challenge people who know a lot more than I do. How do they know that the three mosasaur teeth they found represent a new species? Could it be a known species of mosasaur with some sort of genetic defect?

[jdranetz]

The dino against the mammal may have had a hinderence of cold, and was attacked while sleeping. Repiles have more primative ears, too. It snuck up on it.

[FACTION]

So you’re telling me that it is technically possible that the ankylosaurus could’ve had human like speech similar to that of a parrot

[Shadowpup]

Me hearing about a fossil found in 2005: "Oh that was a couple years ago." Reid: "NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO." Me: WTF

[uningenieromas]

11:18 That fight would have 'Duel of Fates' in the background.

[AngryKittens]

An ancient angry kitten fighting a dragon to the death, while in the background, a volcano is exploding. **cue metal music**

[elihyland]

That thumbnail deserves to be preserved for future generations