Oldest Dinosaur-era Ocean Ecosystem: Over 30,000 Fossils Found on Arctic Island

A breathtaking discovery has been found on an Arctic island. Over 30,000 fossils were found which are from the oldest dinosaur-era ocean ecosystem. On the Arctic island of Spitsbergen, scientists have discovered the most devastating extinction that has happened in the past.

These fossils had teeth, bones and other remains found of ancient marine reptiles, bony fish, sharks and amphibians which came from a group that lived about 249 million years ago. Among the most notable discoveries are strange marine reptiles and amphibians that represent the earliest stages of land animals that eventually made their home in the ocean.

What exactly have scientists found?

For many years, scientists thought that it took around eight million years for marine life to recover and that reptiles and amphibians slowly moved into the open ocean. But this theory is contradicted by recent fossil discoveries made in Spitsbergen.

These remains are found in the rocks that were once very muddy seafloor near the vast Panthalassa Ocean, according to the research. The discovery has been published in the journal Science. Spitsbergen, which is a member of the Svalbard archipelago, is famous for its fossils that date back to the beginning of the dinosaur age.

Researchers gathered samples from a 36 square meter area, collecting more than 800 kg of material. Fossilized feces, shark teeth, the bones of massive aquatic reptiles, and scales from tiny fish were among them.

What was the great dying? 

Following the end-Permian extinction event, which took place around 252 million years ago, this evolutionary shift took place gradually. The Great Dying, as this occurrence is called, was brought on by massive volcanic eruptions that occurred during the breakup of Pangea, which resulted in deoxygenation, acidification, and extreme heat in the oceans, killing more than 90% of marine life.

These fossils were first discovered by scientists in 2015. They prepared thousands of pieces over the course of many years. The research was conducted by a group from Oslo and Stockholm. This week, Science published their results.