A distinctive hadrosaurus tooth, estimated to be around 84 million years old, was uncovered during a fossil expedition in Green County, Alabama. This find was reported by the Alabama Museum of Natural History.

Dr. John Friel, the museum’s director, discovered the fossils on July 26 while exploring gravel bars of a stream on private property. Commonly known as duck-billed dinosaurs, hadrosaurs were prominent herbivores during the Late Cretaceous period across North America and Asia.

The museum expressed that dinosaur remains are particularly uncommon in Alabama. This find is especially significant since the site in Green County is recognized for yielding various fossils, such as shark teeth and ammonites.

The teeth are recorded under Almnh:Paleo:22015 and might be displayed at the Alabama Museum of Natural History in the future. Such remarkable finds contribute to the museum’s paleontological collection, aimed at both research and public exhibitions.

Dr. Friel remarked, “Our museum fossil excursions are a fantastic entry point for anyone curious about fossil hunting. They tend to fill up quickly each year.” He assured first-time participants that they would likely find a fossil and suggested they could keep what they discover. Exceptional finds can be donated to the museum for inclusion in its collections or for research purposes.

Friel added, “When we returned this summer, we were hopeful that participants would unearth more dinosaur fossils.”

This discovery comes on the heels of a notable event in 2024, when two dinosaur toe bones were found during a similar museum outing.