Big Joe (dinosaur)
 Big Joe on display at Knuthenborg Safaripark | |
| Common name | Big Joe |
|---|---|
| Species | Allosaurus |
| Place discovered | Wyoming, United States |
| Date discovered | 2015 |
| Discovered by | Brock Sisson |
Big Joe is the most complete and best-preserved Allosaurus fossil known to date. First described as Allosaurus fragilis newer studies showed that the fossil belongs to Allosaurus jimmadseni an older species of the Allosaurus genus.[1] The large theropod dinosaur lived around 155 Ma ago in the Late Jurassic on a North American flood plain,[2] it’s powerful hind limbs, sharp claws and serrated teeth, made it an apex predator of its ecosystem.[3]
With 95% of its skeleton preserved and rare skin imprints, Big Joe is today's best-preserved Allosaurus fossil found. Therefore, it offers scientists a rare opportunity to study its anatomy and growth to understand A. jimmadseni role in the Late Jurassic ecosystem.[1][4]
Discovery
[edit]The fossil was discovered in 2015 by Brock Sisson and colleagues in the State of Wyoming in what was once the sandbank of a river.[1] It took 10 men 18 months to finally free Big Joe from the sandstone he was encased in.[5]
Portions of Big Joe’s skin and scales have also been preserved as impressions. The impressions are unique among dinosaurs and were described by palaeontologist Dr. Mark Loewen as being similar in appearance to that seen on the underside of snakes.[1]
Fossil characteristics
[edit]Big Joe is measured at 9 meters (30 feet) long and 3 metres (10 feet) tall, and weighed approximately 1.5 tons which means that he represents the largest Allosaurus that has ever been found.[1]
Big Joe is estimated to have died at around 30 years old, based on a count of the lines of arrested growth (LAGs) present in a bone that was broken during fossil preparation. This discovery makes him among the oldest Allosaurus to have ever been discovered.[1]
The skeleton itself contains a few injuries. First, the calf and shin are fused together with ankle bones, indicating recovery from an injury.[1] This may have taken place due to a fight with another predatory dinosaur or a failed hunt.[6] The extent of healing indicates Big Joe survived long after this injury occurred.[1] In addition, there is an infection on the head and the teeth show signs of disease.[6]
Exhibition
[edit]As of February 2025, Big Joe is part of the Museum of Evolution inside the Knuthenborg Safaripark.[7] The fossil is part of a newly built exhibition which opened to the public on the 9th of April 2023, after initially arriving with several other prehistoric fossils from the Permian like Dimetrodon.[2] Visitors can see the fossil in the Dinosaur Era of the Museum together with other dinosaur fossils such as the world's biggest dinosaur skull belonging to the Torosaurus Adam.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h Olsen, Henrik (2025-02-02). "Big Joe is coming to Knuthenborg". knuthenborg.dk. Archived from the original on 2023-04-03. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
- ^ a b "Genuine Skeleton of the Ultimate Predator Dinosaur Arrives in Denmark". museumofevolution.com. 2022-03-30. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
- ^ ""Big Joe", wild, gefährlich und 150 Millionen Jahre alt". Euronews (in German). 2023-01-31. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
- ^ "Der Allosaurier Big Joe". Bayerische Staatszeitung (in German). 2022-06-30. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
- ^ Frandsen, Palle Nevad (2022-03-31). "Tog 18 måneder at grave "Big Joe" fri". Lolland-Falsters Folketidende (in Danish). Retrieved 2025-02-02.
- ^ a b "Ultimate predatory dinosaur". museumofevolution.com. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
- ^ a b "Giants ruled the earth millions of years ago". museumofevolution.com. Retrieved 2025-02-02.