In his formative years in Medicine Hat, Andre Mueller developed a deep fascination with dinosaurs. Fast forward to today, and Mueller, now a master’s student at McGill University, has unearthed a significant discovery that is reshaping our understanding of the prehistoric era.
The breakthrough occurred when Mueller, then an undergraduate at McGill, participated in a paleontology field course at Alberta’s Dinosaur Provincial Park under the guidance of Prof. Hans Larsson. During the expedition, Mueller stumbled upon a fossilized dragonfly wing, marking the identification of a novel species and the inaugural such find from Canada’s dinosaur-era strata.
The revelation, which took place in 2023, was serendipitous. While the team primarily focused on locating plant fossils, Mueller urged his peers to be on the lookout for peculiar shapes. Midway through the season, a rock the size of a toonie was handed to him. Upon inspection, Mueller experienced a moment of realization as he discerned that it was not a leaf but something far more intriguing.
This unexpected discovery has shed light on a 30-million-year gap in the historical record. The dragonfly, now dubbed Cordualadensa acorni, was described by Mueller, along with his colleague Alexandre Demers-Potvin and Prof. Larsson, in an article published in the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences on August 1.
The new dragonfly species was christened Cordualadensa to highlight the densely packed veins on its wings compared to its modern counterparts. The moniker “acorni” was chosen in honor of John Acorn, a University of Alberta lecturer renowned for his efforts in promoting the natural history of the province.
Measuring about the width of a human hand, Cordualadensa acorni may have been diminutive but played a significant role in the dinosaur ecosystem. The finding has sparked renewed interest in insect research, with Mueller hinting at more discoveries on the horizon.
The dragonfly fossil has not only expanded our knowledge of prehistoric life but also provided valuable insights into the evolution of dragonflies. Larsson emphasized that the wing anatomy suggests an adaptation for gliding, a trait associated with migratory dragonflies today, potentially key to their survival.
Mueller’s groundbreaking find has set the stage for further exploration at Dinosaur Provincial Park, offering the promise of more revelations awaiting discovery at this historic site.
