A fossilized vomit dating back 66 million years has been unearthed in Denmark.
The specimen, discovered along the Stevns Klint coastal cliffs, comprises regurgitated pieces of sea lily, a kind of marine invertebrate.
These organisms were consumed during the Cretaceous epoch tens of millions of years ago.
Fossil enthusiast Peter Bennicke made the find while splitting open a chunk of chalk.
He then transported the fossil to a nearby museum, where it was cleaned and analyzed by professionals.
It was at this facility that John Jagt determined the remnants were sea lilies ingested by an animal which subsequently expelled the indigestible fragments.
Such discoveries are exceptionally valuable to researchers, as they provide insights into ancient ecosystems and illustrate the dietary habits of predators alongside the functioning of food chains millions of years ago.
The specimen has been designated Danekrae DK-1295 – Danekrae are unique natural wonders of Denmark.
A sea lily – a type of marine invertebrate. File pic: iStock
The curator of the Geomuseum Faxe and a member of the Danish Wildlife Committee, Jesper Milan, remarked to Sky News that pinpointing the exact animal responsible for the remains is challenging.
However, he suggested it likely belonged to a creature adapted to consuming hard-shelled organisms, such as a fish or a benthic shark.
He noted, “We have discovered teeth from sharks that were specialized in crushing hard-shelled prey within the same vicinity.”
He further elaborated, “These species are known as Heterodontus, which is a relative of the contemporary Port Jackson shark. This one is high on my list of possibilities.”
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Mr. Milan continued, “This is indeed a remarkable discovery.
“Sea lilies do not constitute a particularly nourishing diet, primarily comprising calcareous plates bound by minimal soft tissue.
“Yet here we have an animal, presumably a type of fish, that 66 million years ago consumed sea lilies situated on the seabed of the Cretaceous ocean and later regurgitated their skeletal remains.
“This discovery yields significant insights into the dynamics between predators and prey as well as the intricate food webs of the Cretaceous ocean.”
The vomit fossil is set to be showcased in a dedicated exhibit at the Geomuseum Faxe.
