New armored lizard fossil ‘Bolg' discovered in Utah named after Tolkien's Goblin Prince
Every fossil unearthed not only tells a story of ancient life but also reinforces the value of conserving these spaces for future scientific discovery. A remarkable discovery of fossils is being unearthed in Utah.
The fossil find hidden in a museum collection has led to the identification of a new species of an ancient lizard inspired by the fantasy world of Tolkien's Goblin Prince, offering fresh insight into the long-lost group of heavily armored reptiles that once roamed prehistoric North America.
Researchers stress that protected public lands like Grand Staircase-Escalante aren't just scenic wilderness areas; they are living laboratories that preserve critical records of Earth's history.
Ancient lizard fossil named after Tolkien's Goblin Prince unearthed in Utah
The newly discovered lizard, named 'Bolg amondol', was about the size of a raccoon and covered in bony, protective armour. The fossil was found in Utah's Kaiparowits Formation, part of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and belongs to a group of ancient predators known as monstersaurs — relatives of the venomous Gila monsters that live today.
The genus name "Bolg" comes from the goblin prince in The Hobbit, while "amondol," derived from Tolkien's Elvish language, means "mound-headed," referencing the lizard's distinctive skull structure.
These adaptations, including sharp teeth and spiked skin, suggest Bolg was a formidable predator in the Late Cretaceous forests around 75 million years ago.
From museum shelf to prehistoric spotlight: The hidden lizard unearthed
According to the study, the fossil was originally excavated in 2005, it went unnoticed until Dr. Hank Woolley of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County revisited a jar tucked away in a museum drawer. What seemed like an overlooked specimen turned out to be a new species, sparking detailed research into its evolutionary history.
The remains, though incomplete, include parts of the skull, vertebrae, limb bones, and dermal armor (osteoderms). Together, they've helped paleontologists better understand this obscure family of lizards, particularly their place in ancient ecosystems dominated by dinosaurs. Co-author Dr. Randy Irmis of the University of Utah emphasized the significance of revisiting older museum specimens. Many important discoveries lie dormant for years until a fresh perspective reveals their importance.
Bolg is now one of at least three large predatory lizards known from the region, enriching our understanding of the diversity within ancient food chains.
How ancient lizards Like Bolg crossed continents
Bolg's closest known relative lived in the Gobi Desert of Asia, hinting at intercontinental migration routes during the Late Cretaceous period. This supports theories that land bridges allowed even smaller reptiles to travel across connected continents, just as some dinosaurs and mammals did.
According to Dr. Joe Sertich of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, lizards like Bolg likely played vital ecological roles. Their diet may have included dinosaur eggs, small animals, and carrion, placing them alongside today's monitor lizards in terms of behavior and function.
Early-career scientist leads breakthrough fossil discovery
The findings were published in
Royal Society Open Science
and supported by the National Science Foundation, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Dinosaur Institute.
Lead researcher Dr. Woolley began this work as a PhD student and now continues it as a postdoctoral fellow — a testament to how early-career scientists can make major breakthroughs.
Dr. Nathan Smith, a co-author from the Dinosaur Institute, highlighted how institutions like theirs support budding researchers in exploring Earth's deep past. The Kaiparowits Formation is already renowned for its dinosaur fossils, and Bolg adds yet another chapter to its prehistoric legacy.
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