For The First Time, Scientists Identify Fossilized Dinosaur Brain Tissue

An unassuming brown pebble has been distinguished by British and Australian scientists as the first known example of fossilized dinosaur brain tissue. The pebble was discovered by a fossil hunter in southern England more than 10 years ago.

The fossilized brain is most probably from a species similar to Iguanodon. This was a large herbivore that existed during the early cretaceous period, around 133 million years ago. It was found near Bexhill in Sussex in 2004 by Jamie Hiscocks, a fossil enthusiast.

A report of the researchers’ study in a Special Publication of the Geological Society of London was released. They said that they think the piece of tissue was so well-preserved since the dinosaur’s brain was “pickled” in an extremely acidic and low oxygen body of water – similar to a swamp or bog – immediately after it perished.

“The chances of preserving brain tissue are incredibly small, so the discovery of this specimen is astonishing,” said Alex Liu of Cambridge University’s department of earth sciences, who worked on its identification.

Cambridge’s David Norman, who led the work, said the discovery also brought up questions about the usual concept of dinosaurs as animals with very small brains.

In normal reptiles, the brain is sausage-shaped and bordered by a dense region of sinuses and blood vessels. This means that the brain itself only occupy about half of the space in the cranial cavity.

However, the scientists said the tissue in the fossilized brain seems to have been pressed against the skull. This raises the likelihood that some dinosaurs had larger brains.

But Norman’s team warned against generating any firm conclusions from this single fossil about dinosaurs’ intelligence levels or brain size.

Dinosaur brains may be larger than previously believed

Norman said that they can’t see the lobes of the brain. Hence, they can’t say for certain how large this dinosaur’s brain was. Though it is very much likely that dinosaurs had larger brains than they were given credit for, they can’t tell from this specimen alone.

Nevertheless, it is very much likely that dinosaurs had larger brains than they were given credit for. Though, they can’t tell from this specimen alone.

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