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Queasy Plesiosaurs Swam to River Deltas to Vomit, Jurassic Fossils Reveal
Key Takeaways
- Paleontologist Dr. Dirk Knaust identified fossilized plesiosaur vomit pellets in ancient river delta deposits about 50 km (31 miles) off the Norwegian coast.
- The shellfish preserved in the vomit required stable ocean salinity, but the delta's freshwater inflows would have made survival impossible there — implying the shellfish were eaten in deeper water.
- More than 20 regurgitalites, ranging from walnut to mango size, were analyzed; one drill core shows 160-million-year-old delta sand holding shells and plant remains.
- The behavior resembles modern fur seals, marine crocodiles, and pellet-producing birds such as owls.
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DT Editorial Team··via phys.org