In 2009, a teen on a Utah fossil trip found a skeleton of a baby dinosaur that changed what researchers knew about Parasaurolophus

In 2009, a high school student went on a fossil-hunting expedition in southern Utah and made a discovery that catched paleontologists off guard. Kevin Terris found a small dinosaur fossil that was later confirmed to be the youngest, smallest and most complete Parasaurolophus fossil found to date.

According to a study published in PubMed Central, his discovery was important as Parasaurolophus is probably one of the most iconic dinosaurs on Earth. They have been recognized worldwide for the long, backwards-curving crest found behind the head.

Adult fossils had been studied for decades, while juvenile fossils were extremely rare. Therefore, this particular fossil became extremely important for studying the growth stages of these unique crests. This particular fossil showed just how much contributions made by students during field work can be used in scientific research.


A school fossil trip leads to an incredible discovery

Kevin Terris made this discovery as part of his school's field work. As seen in the research paper, the Parasaurolophus' fossil, RAM 14000, contained a complete skeletal structure along with the head. This level of completeness is rare in juvenile dinosaurs due to their fragile nature and tendency to scatter.

As was noted by scientists, this fossil was “the ontogenetically youngest and most complete Parasaurolophus known.” In other words, this particular dinosaur fossil was a representation of the youngest developmental period found so far, with a great deal of information.

Not only was the discovery made due to the rarity of this fossil, but also the process by which the discovery was made. Paleontologists often search for fossils in the desert in Utah by looking at fragmented rocks in challenging weather conditions. It takes a great deal of patience and skill to spot any valuable fossils.

Significance of the small crest

Perhaps the greatest significance of this particular discovery was the crest that the fossil contained. Adult Parasaurolophus dinosaurs possessed large hollow crests that may have produced sounds and provided signals for visual cues. The development of such crests in young dinosaurs had remained a mystery for scientists.

The juvenile specimen showed the presence of a low, rounded crest, which began developing even during its early stages. Scientists determined that Parasaurolophus started growing its crests even before the skull reached 25% of the maximum adult size. This information proved useful for comparing Parasaurolophus to other members of the family. According to researchers, the development of the crest on Parasaurolophus occurred sooner than in several relatives. The authors of the study stated this specimen gives valuable insight into the ontogeny of Parasaurolophus.

Why the fossil beds of Utah are significant

The fossil was unearthed in the Kaiparowits Formation, which is dated 75.5 million years ago to the Late Cretaceous epoch. The region in southern Utah is one of the richest sources of fossils of dinosaurs in North America, as the rock formations there represent an ecosystem of dinosaurs with a high diversity of representatives.

Southern Utah has provided numerous fossils of large carnivorous dinosaurs, armoured dinosaurs, horned herbivorous dinosaurs, as well as duck-billed ones like Parasaurolophus. In addition, the discovery received an overview by Nature, the scientific news source, which called the fossil the best-preserved young Parasaurolophus specimen. It was observed that due to the completeness of the specimen, it was useful for studies of growth rather than identification of the species.

Why juvenile fossils are rare

Fossils of juveniles are very difficult to analyze compared to adult fossils, as the former have weak bone structure. They are prone to deterioration and rarely make it to become fossils. Even when paleontologists discover juvenile fossils, it is often hard to classify the species since juvenile animals look quite differently from their adults.

This is why RAM 14000 became such an important find. The fossil contained the developmental period that paleontologists rarely get to see. For once, there was no need to compare just adult skeletons in order to understand the development process; scientists now had a complete picture with juveniles added. The fossil gave paleontologists another key period in the development of the Parasaurolophus.

Why the discovery continues to impress today

Despite the passage of more than a decade since its discovery, the find in Utah still remains significant because of both scientific and personal aspects. A teenager participating in a supervised school excursion discovered a fossil, which was used in scholarly work regarding dinosaurs. The finding allowed paleontologists to have a better understanding of how one of the most famous dinosaurs evolved from childhood to adulthood.

The discovery also proves the need for extensive exploration to conduct scientific research. While what initially appeared to be a tiny skeleton in the Utah desert, it actually contained vital information about dinosaurs. Scientists researching Parasaurolophus found answers to their questions only after analyzing this fossil.