Fossils thought to be from animals killed by K-T asteroid found

[CalMeacham]

Maybe. We’ll see.

The association between the end of the age of dinosaurs and an asteroid impact off what is now Mexico is well evidenced. Their fossil evidece ends at the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K–Pg) boundary, formerly known as the Cretaceous–Tertiary ( K-T ) boundary. This is formed of material thrown high into the atmosphere by the hit. Diagnostic of the formation are tiny glass like balls of materials melted by the energy of the impact and raining down from on high.

There has never been published evidence of animals being killed by the impact — until now! For three years a BBC crew followed the excavation of a fossil deposit in Tanis, North Dakota. Robert DePalma, the University of Manchester, UK, graduate student who leads the Tanis dig believes they are the remains of animals deposited by tsunami after impact. Two fossils in particular show the violence of the event. A turtle had been skewered by wood. One fossil was a perfectly presrved dinosaur leg complete with skin that shows every evidence of being torn off by the water.

My favorite part of the story, though, is the note at the end:

Please note: The top picture is of course an artistic impression. Neither the BBC nor the other great British institution Sir David Attenborough were around to film live in the age of dinosaurs. On the other hand, the BBC is celebrating its 100th year and Sir David first joined them, as a trainee TV producer, in 1952.

Fossils of animals killed by the asteroid found

P.S. I hadn’t realized that they changed it from K-T to K-Pg. I gotta keep up. Probably too many theatergoers thought it stood for “General Patronage” or something.

[Darren_Garrison]

I thought about bumping the earlier thread (that this should be merged with) but decided it was too speculative (the rework possibility mentioned).

The KT impact: deaths on the day found in Dakota

BBC story here. Scientists have found creatures that were killed on the day of the impact and were immediately covered by mud and thus preserved as fossils. Amazing.

@CalMeacham

P.S. I hadn’t realized that they changed it from K-T to K-Pg . I gotta keep up. Probably too many theatergoers thought it stood for “General Patronage” or something.

It is just correcting an asymmetry in terms. Cretaceous–Tertiary is like saying “December-2022”. Cretaceous-Paleogene is like saying “December-January”. (I still like to call it “Katey”, though.)

[ekedolphin]

I just found this and was about to post about it. Remarkable! If proven to be true.

[Northern_Piper]

I thought this info came out over a year ago?

Pretty sure there was a thread on it.

[wolfpup]

@Northern_Piper

Pretty sure there was a thread on it.

Quite a lengthy thread, too. @Darren_Garrison linked to it in the second post here.

[Ruken]

@Northern_Piper

I thought this info came out over a year ago?

Pretty sure there was a thread on it.

What’s new is non-fish* fossils, including dinosaurs. What’s not new is going for first disclosure in popular media.

*In the polyphyletic sense, before the “we’re all fish” crowd arrives.

[Skywatcher]

@Ruken

*In the polyphyletic sense, before the “we’re all fish” crowd arrives.

Some more fishy than others.

[Darren_Garrison]

@Ruken

In the polyphyletic sense, before the “we’re all fish” crowd arrives.

Fish lives matter!

[carnivorousplant]

While fish with debris in their gills seems to hold up to being from asteroid debris, the dinosaur leg has been challenged as being direct results of the impact.