Prehistoric sea creature fossil unveiled at Royal Saskatchewan Museum
The Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM) is now home to a new fossil found in Grasslands National Park.
The fossil – which will be housed at the museum but won’t be on display for another three or four years – is part of a Prognathodon skeleton, also known as the T. rex of the sea.
Parks Canada was first contacted in 2012 to investigate the discovery of a fossil in Grasslands National Park. Fragments of skull and other surface material were collected in 2012 and 2013. Then, the RSM got a permit in 2019 to dig at the site. RSM staff have since collected most of the skull, neck and a few other bones.
The Prognathodon skull found in Saskatchewan is 130 centimetres long, significantly larger than three other specimens found in Alberta, which are roughly 80 to 90 centimetres in length.
Staff members at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum got a permit to dig for the Prognathodon fossil in 2019. (Supplied: Government of Saskatchewan)
According to the RSM, the Prognathodon lived in the Western Interior Seaway – that once covered the majority of Saskatchewan – about 75 million years ago.
RSM said it hopes more of the fossil can be recovered next summer.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Minister 'outraged' after AFN national chief's headdress taken from Air Canada cabin
The federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations is calling on Air Canada to 'make things right' with the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who said her headdress was removed from an airplane cabin during a flight this week.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.