A fascinating and rare discovery has shed light on the dietary habits of ancient predators: a 66-million-year-old fossilized vomit, found at Stevns Klint in eastern Denmark. The fossil was unearthed by Peter Bennicke, a local fossil enthusiast.
After noticing a curious cluster of embedded fragments in chalk, he brought his find to the Geomuseum Faxe for further investigation. There, it caught the attention of curator Jesper Milàn and Dutch sea lily expert John Jagt, who determined its true nature: the preserved remains of a predator’s undigested meal.
Rare “Regurgitalite” Sparks Scientific Curiosity
The fossil, also known as a “regurgitalite”, contains the remains of two species of sea lilies, marine animals resembling plants that were part of the ocean ecosystem during the Cretaceous period.
These creatures, primarily composed of calcareous plates with minimal soft tissue, were consumed by an ancient predator—most likely a fish. Unable to digest the hard fragments, the predator expelled them, leaving behind a snapshot of its dining habits.
“Sea lilies are not a particularly nutritious diet, as they mainly consist of calcareous plates held together by very few soft parts,” said Milàn in a press release.
Fossilized vomit like this is exceedingly rare, but its significance is undeniable. By analyzing such remnants, scientists can reconstruct ancient ecosystems, trace predator-prey relationships, and understand the dynamics of long-extinct food webs.
The Significance Of Stevns Klint
The discovery site, Stevns Klint, is a coastal region along Denmark’s Baltic Sea and a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its rich deposits of fossils from the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary. The area has long been a treasure trove for paleontologists, as it preserves layers of chalk and limestone formed during a pivotal moment in Earth’s history.
Stevns Klint has yielded numerous insights into the mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. This latest find adds to its scientific legacy, offering a rare glimpse into the behavior of the creatures that inhabited the seas just before the extinction.
Bringing Prehistoric Dining To The Public
Danekræ DK-1295 has been designated as a “Danekræ”, a title reserved for rare and scientifically significant finds in Denmark. According to Danish law, such fossils must be evaluated by a specialized committee from the Natural History Museum of Denmark before receiving this status.
Visitors can now see the fossil on display at the Geomuseum Faxe, where it serves as the centerpiece of an exhibition on prehistoric life. The display includes educational material explaining how regurgitalites are formed and why they are so valuable to scientists.
Milàn hopes the fossil will inspire greater public interest in paleontology, especially the overlooked aspects of ancient life, such as the less glamorous—but equally important—remnants of predator activity.
A Window Into Ancient Ecosystems
This discovery underscores the importance of studying fossils beyond the skeletons of large, charismatic creatures like dinosaurs. Regurgitalites, though rare, hold immense scientific value because they offer direct evidence of predator-prey interactions, diet, and behavior.
In this case, the sea lilies’ fragments tell a story about the dietary choices available in the Cretaceous oceans and how predators adapted to less-than-ideal prey. It also raises intriguing questions about the ecosystem dynamics at Stevns Klint during a time of significant environmental change.
By piecing together these clues, researchers can better understand how ancient food chains functioned and how they responded to the dramatic events that reshaped the planet 66 million years ago.
More Than A Quirky Vomit Fossil
While the idea of a fossilized regurgitation may seem amusing or even revolting, its implications are profound. Discoveries like Danekræ DK-1295 demonstrate the complexity of ancient ecosystems and the intricate relationships between predators and prey.
The next time you think about the prehistoric past, remember that even the humblest discoveries—like a fossilized pile of vomit—can reveal extraordinary stories about life on Earth millions of years ago.
After reading the entire article, I’m still asking myself exactly what extraordinary find did this regurgitate reveal? The article promised and extraordinary fine found from fossilized vomit. All it revealed was the contents of the vomit which to me, isn’t all that extraordinary.