Key facts
- Fossils discovered in a desert are providing new insights into marine history.
- The discoveries relate to the period following the extinction of the dinosaurs.
New fossil discoveries made in a desert environment are helping scientists to fill in gaps in their understanding of marine life during the initial millions of years after the extinction of the dinosaurs. This period in Earth's history is less understood than others, and these fossils offer a glimpse into the recovery and evolution of marine ecosystems in the aftermath of the mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs.