In Los Angeles Lies the Only Dinosaur with “Green Bones”: A Prehistoric Mystery!
Unlike typical fossils, which are usually brown or black, the fossil of Gnatalie is uniquely characterized by its entirely green color.
A New Paleontological Attraction in Los Angeles
Natural history museums around the globe host an array of prehistoric marvels. The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles recently made headlines by unveiling an extraordinary fossil named Gnatalie. This name was chosen by the citizens of Los Angeles, inspired by the gnats that were found hovering around the fossil at its discovery in 2007.
A Striking Feature
The uniqueness of Gnatalie lies in its entirely green skeleton. This “emerald skeleton” is the result of a very rare natural phenomenon involving celadonite, a mineral that forms under conditions particularly destructive to dinosaur bones, which are typically infiltrated by silica or iron ore, resulting in brown or black colors.
The Final Cut with LA36!•Meet Gnatalie! She’s going to be the new resident at the Natural History Museum.🦖🦕 🎥•• #la36 #countyofla #nhm #naturalhistorymuseum #dinosaur #wherearewenow #myofficefortheday #onthemove #entertainmentindustry #production #tv #film #industry pic.twitter.com/YTZWxXuukz
— LA36 (@LA36TV) July 12, 2024
A Single Dinosaur or Several?
The story of Gnatalie is even more intriguing due to its unusual composition. Surprisingly, museum experts revealed that this dinosaur is not a single entity but an assembly of several sauropod specimens, related to Diplodocus.
🦕 #NHMLA’s Green Dino officially has a name! With a journey almost as long as its neck, venture back to 2007 and learn about Gnatalie’s (“nat-ah-lee”) discovery in the Badlands of Utah by researchers from our Dinosaur Institute: https://t.co/L0z7PN0LWd
✏️ Stephanie Abramowicz pic.twitter.com/YTZWxXuukz
— Natural History Museum of L.A. County (@NHMLA) June 28, 2024
An Educational Tool
For paleontologist Luis M. Chiappe, this nearly 80-foot-long green giant is more than just a dinosaur. It’s an exciting opportunity to “engage [visitors] in the scientific discovery process and reflect on the wonders of the world we live in”. The exhibit will open to the public in the fall of 2024, promising an unforgettable encounter with a living fragment from the Upper Jurassic era.