110-million-year-old dinosaur mummy found with stomach intact: Here's why it remained preserved all this while

Millions of years ago, dinosaurs ruled the Earth, leaving behind mysteries that are still buried deep beneath the ground in the form of fossils. And when these fossils are discovered by scientists and paleontologists, they are no less than a window into the past, tracing millions of years back, that tell stories far beyond just bones.

Recently, a dinosaur fossil was discovered, but it is different from the usual ones because it just does not have well-preserved bones, but also naturally intact thick skin, which has also made it a rare find, and no less than a scientific treasure for research.

Dinosaur "Mummy" found in Canada

Miners in Canada discovered the fossilised remains of a dinosaur which are so well-preserved that it has been described as a “mummy” and an extremely rare once-in-a-lifetime discovery.

Unlike most fossils that only keep the bones, this specimen retains fossilised skin, armor, and even internal organs like intestines. This special condition gives scientists an unparalleled look at a creature that walked the Earth over 110 million years ago.

According to Futura Sciences, it is now on display at the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Alberta, and it is part of the nodosaur family, which was a group of heavy, armored, plant-eating dinosaurs that once inhabited the Cretaceous period. The fossil’s extraordinary preservation helped scientists to reconstruct the nodosaur’s appearance in great detail, down to the scales and soft tissues.

The discovery was accidental

According to a National Geographic report, workers drilling at the Suncor Millennium Mine near Fort McMurray expected to find coal or rock but instead uncovered the petrified body of this nodosaur, covered in marine sediments. According to Futura-Sciences, the fossilisation is so complete that it includes external skin patterns, fully articulated bones, and traces of internal anatomy.

Paleontologists estimate the dinosaur weighed about 1,400 kilograms during its lifetime. Even fossilized, it still weighs roughly 1,100 kilograms, showing just how dense and well-preserved the specimen is. Although some parts, like the tail, back legs, and a forelimb, are missing, technician Mark Mitchell, who spent years preparing the fossil, called it “the best-preserved Nodosaur ever discovered.”

But how did the skin remain perfectly preserved for so long

Experts believe this dinosaur died near a body of water, sank to the sea floor, and was quickly coated by ocean minerals. This coating helped preserve not just the outer skin layers but internal features before decomposition could take hold. Marine deposits found within the skin support this theory.

According to the Futura Sciences report, Don Henderson, a paleontologist at the Royal Tyrrell Museum, described the rarity of this find, noting the fossil “still had soft tissues clinging to its bones, which is an almost unheard-of condition in dinosaur remains.” He added that the stomach area revealed well-defined intestines, a feature never before observed in nodosaurs.

Dinosaur was named after its researcher

A scientific study published in Current Biology by Caleb Brown and colleagues named the species Borealopelta markmitchelli, meaning "Mark Mitchell’s northern shield," honoring the fossil organiser and researcher who spent over 7,000 hours carefully uncovering the specimen. Researchers found evidence of countershading pigmentation in the dinosaur’s skin, a form of camouflage to avoid predators, with reddish-brown pigment on the back and lighter coloring underneath.


According to scientists at the Royal Tyrrell Museum, this nodosaur’s preservation is unmatched in North America, and possibly worldwide. Despite the loss of some limbs, it remains an outstanding specimen that continues to surprise experts and the public. The accidental discovery reinforces nature's unique ability to preserve the past but also raises questions about how such fossils form and the marine conditions during the Cretaceous period.

This nodosaur fossil will likely change how paleobiology understands dinosaur life and the fossilization process, proving that even millions of years later, ancient secrets continue to emerge





Photos: Wikimedia Commons

With references from research