Monstersaurian Lizard in Warm Subarctic Alberta During Late Cretaceous

Explore the fascinating discoveries from ongoing fieldwork at the DC Bonebed site on the Wapiti River, revealing a rich community of dinosaurs and other creatures that inhabited northwestern Alberta approximately 75 million years ago. Learn about a significant find: a skull bone from a lizard belonging to the Monstersauria group, related to modern Gila monsters and beaded lizards. Examine how this "DC Monster" specimen provides insights into Late Cretaceous biodiversity and climate. Discover the similarities between this ancient lizard and its modern counterparts, including protective osteoderms fused to the skull. Compare the DC Monster to a similar Late Cretaceous monstersaur found in Montana. Investigate the implications of finding such creatures at high latitudes during the Late Cretaceous period, alongside gingko trees, crocodilians, and soft-shelled turtles. Gain a deeper understanding of the warmer global climate during this era and its impact on the distribution of various species.