Ancient Fossil Discovery Alters Understanding of Dinosaur Evolution
WHO:
Science Daily - An international team of researchers led by the University of Bristol.
WHAT:
CNN - A fossilized feather found in Montana belonged to a bird that was likely devoured by a predatory dinosaur just before the asteroid strike that caused the mass extinction 66 million years ago.
CNN - The feather is described as the best-preserved feather ever extracted from Mesozoic deposits.
Science Daily - A new prehistoric animal species named Dinodontosaurus isiyavamanda has been identified.
Phys.org - The fossil is approximately 240 million years old and could reshape the timeline of early dinosaur evolution.
WHERE:
CNN - The coprolite containing the feather was unearthed in the Hell Creek Formation in Montana.
Science Daily - The fossil was discovered in Tanzania.
WHEN:
Phys.org - The fossil dates back to around 240 million years ago, during the Triassic period.
WHY:
Science Daily - The discovery suggests that Tanzania’s supposed oldest dinosaur fossils may actually be millions of years younger than previously thought.
HOW:
CNN - The feather was discovered in 2016 by David DeMar Jr. while he was collecting fish fossils in Montana.
Phys.org - The identification of Dinodontosaurus isiyavamanda links fossil deposits in Tanzania with those previously known only from South America.
(UPDATED September 16, 2026 16:02 UTC)
A remarkable discovery in Montana has revealed a fossilized feather that belonged to a bird likely eaten by a predatory dinosaur just before the asteroid impact that led to the mass extinction 66 million years ago. This feather is being hailed as the best-preserved specimen ever found in Mesozoic deposits, and it was unearthed from a coprolite in the Hell Creek Formation. The feather was originally discovered in 2016 by David DeMar Jr. while he was on a quest to collect fish fossils in the area.
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(UPDATED September 16, 2026 15:01 UTC)
An international team of researchers led by the University of Bristol has identified a new prehistoric animal species named Dinodontosaurus isiyavamanda, discovered in Tanzania. This fossil, approximately 240 million years old, could reshape our understanding of early dinosaur evolution, suggesting that Tanzania’s supposed oldest dinosaur fossils may actually be millions of years younger than previously thought. The identification of Dinodontosaurus isiyavamanda also links fossil deposits in Tanzania with those previously known only from South America.