This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp82jle12j7o
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
66 million-year-old fish vomit discovered in Denmark | 66 million-year-old fish vomit discovered in Denmark |
(32 minutes later) | |
A piece of fossilised animal vomit, thought to be 66 million years old | A piece of fossilised animal vomit, thought to be 66 million years old |
A piece of fossilised vomit dating back to the time of the dinosaurs has been discovered in Denmark. | |
Local fossil hunter Peter Bennicke found the fossil at Stevns Klint - a Unesco-listed coastal cliff in the east of the country. | Local fossil hunter Peter Bennicke found the fossil at Stevns Klint - a Unesco-listed coastal cliff in the east of the country. |
The self-declared "fossil geek" said he came across some unusual-looking fragments which turned out to be pieces of sea lily - an underwater species related to starfish and sea urchins - in a piece of chalk. | The self-declared "fossil geek" said he came across some unusual-looking fragments which turned out to be pieces of sea lily - an underwater species related to starfish and sea urchins - in a piece of chalk. |
Mr Bennicke took the fragments to be examined at the Museum of East Zealand, which confirmed the vomit could be dated to the end of the Cretaceous period 66 million years ago - a time when dinosaurs including Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops existed. | |
Jesper Milan, palaeontologist and curator at the museum, told the BBC it was "truly an unusual find" as it helps explain relationships in the prehistoric food chain. | Jesper Milan, palaeontologist and curator at the museum, told the BBC it was "truly an unusual find" as it helps explain relationships in the prehistoric food chain. |
"It tells us something about who was eating who 66 million years ago," he said. | "It tells us something about who was eating who 66 million years ago," he said. |
During the period fish and sharks would eat sea lilies, which are hard to digest meaning they would then "regurgitate all the chalk bits", he explained. | During the period fish and sharks would eat sea lilies, which are hard to digest meaning they would then "regurgitate all the chalk bits", he explained. |
"This find is a unique glimpse into the everyday situation in the bottom of the Cretaceous sea - the sea during which the dinosaurs lived," he said. | "This find is a unique glimpse into the everyday situation in the bottom of the Cretaceous sea - the sea during which the dinosaurs lived," he said. |
The discovery is also significant for improving our understanding of past ecosystems. | The discovery is also significant for improving our understanding of past ecosystems. |
Mr Milan said his museum had only sent the information to the local press but the discovery has sparked global interest. "This is the world's most famous piece of puke ever," he said. | Mr Milan said his museum had only sent the information to the local press but the discovery has sparked global interest. "This is the world's most famous piece of puke ever," he said. |
Peter Bennicke, who made the discovery, describes himself as a "fossil geek" | Peter Bennicke, who made the discovery, describes himself as a "fossil geek" |