FAQS: Earth Sciences Unit
Are all of Saskatchewan's fossils dinosaurs?
Not at all. A great variety of fossils have been found in the province. In fact, Saskatchewan has the most and best marine reptile fossils in Canada. This group of animals is of great interest to the scientific community because very little is known about their life histories, their classifications or the environment in which they lived. Marine reptiles include the enormous, toothy mosasaurs and the long-necked plesiosaurs that resemble images of “Nessie”, the animal fabled to inhabit Loch Ness in Scotland. In the Carrot River area northeast of Saskatoon, RSM staff discovered the most complete Terminonaris crocodile skeleton in the world, affectionately named “Big Bert.” This crocodile was about six metres long and lived along the shores of the great inland sea that covered most of Saskatchewan 90 million years ago.
Mosasaur skeleton on display in the RSM Earth Sciences Gallery
Many fossilized mammal bones have been found in the Cypress Hills area, including those of rhinoceros-like brontotheres, tiny three-toed horses and sabretoothed cats. Mammals from the ice age, like mammoth and ancient bison, have also been discovered in the province.
Brontothere on display in the Earth Sciences Gallery
Also found in Saskatchewan are fossil invertebrates such as ammonites. These ancient relatives of squids, octopus and cuttlefish lived inside their coiled shells during the marine Cretaceous period. There are also rare and fragile plant fossils from coal-bearing sediments in southern Saskatchewan that are approximately 55 to 65 million years old.
Ammonite
For further information contact the Curator of Earth Sciences
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