Discover the Epic Home of Polar Dinosaurs that Dominated Antarctica 120 Million Years Ago!

Scientists have brought to life the ancient world of dinosaurs that roamed near the Antarctic Circle about 120 million years ago. This was a time when cool-temperate forests thrived across what is now southern Australia. Back then, this land connected Australia and Antarctica and was home to dinosaurs that adapted well to their unique environment.

Around 120 million years ago, what we now call Victoria, Australia lay within the polar circle, nearly 80 degrees south of the equator. Despite facing months of darkness each year, this region was alive with lush ecosystems. Vera Korasidis, a geoscience lecturer at the University of Melbourne, shared that this area was much warmer than today. In fact, it was 6 to 14 degrees Celsius higher, meaning polar ice caps were absent.

The landscape was filled with cool-temperate rainforests, flowing rivers, and large ferns. Ancient conifers towered above, while the understory flourished with scaly and forked ferns. This diverse plant life provided food and shelter for the dinosaurs that called this place home.

Fossils indicate a variety of dinosaurs lived here, including small ornithopods—herbivores known for their beaks and cheek teeth—and small theropods, which were usually feathered carnivores. “Polar dinosaurs,” as they are often called, thrived despite the harsh conditions, with evidence of their existence found at many paleontological sites.

Researchers Korasidis and Barbara Wagstaff examined almost 300 samples from 48 coastal sites in Victoria. The samples, dating back 130 to 110 million years, included tiny spores and pollen grains that help tell the story of early polar forests. Their findings, published in the journal Alcheringa, represent the first detailed look at Early Cretaceous landscapes.

As flowering plants emerged around 113 million years ago, they changed the composition of these forests. Korasidis pointed out that the rise of flowering plants led to the extinction of various understory plants. By 100 million years ago, Victoria’s forests had an open canopy of conifers, with flowering plants, ferns, and mosses beneath. This transformation likely affected what dinosaurs ate, as they began incorporating flowering plants into their diets.

This research not only sheds light on a lost world but also highlights how climate changes can reshape ecosystems over millions of years. Understanding these ancient environments helps scientists draw connections to current climate issues and the ongoing impact on biodiversity.

For more insights into the prehistoric period, consider exploring resources from reputable sources like the Natural History Museum or academic studies in paleobotany.

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