Once Again Montana Wows With Dino Fossil Discovery

Montana should get used to staying on top of the paleo game.

In our state, scientists have made a great number of fossil discoveries over the years and with this recent dig out of Jordan, Montana.

According to Q2 News out of Billings, Montana, a rare discovery is getting the attention of paleontologists that is 65 million years in the making.

Scientist in eastern Montana are prepping an Edmontosaurus for removal and transport in October. This dig is very special in that they discovered while uncovering this ancient beast that it's skin is preserved and fossilized.

Scientist say that this discovery is very important for further research on how dino skin operated all those years ago.

According to the report, Edmontosaurus measures estimate at about 35 feet from nose to tail and paleontologist Alan Detrich has an idea of how this creature's skin worked.

Detrich believes the dinosaur may have been able to change the color of its skin, like a chameleon, from orange to something else, offering protection from predators.

Imagine a dinosaur with skin that changes color? I don't know about you, but I think this is huge and very cool.

Jordan is in a very important area of fossil research. In the report, Detrich describes the area where dinosaurs thrived in their time.

"The inland sea, they call it the Cretaceous sea," Alan Detrich said about the area. "Goes all the way up into Canada and covered Kansas, where I live."

We will be here if any updates come from the dino-skin discovery.