Rare Baby Dinosaur Species Discovered in South Korea

APHAE ISLAND, South Korea — A partial skeleton unearthed from a rocky island has been identified as a new species of small, juvenile dinosaur, marking South Korea’s first new dinosaur discovery in 15 years. The fossil, initially appearing as only a few bones embedded in the Ilseongsan Formation, revealed a more complete skeleton hiding within the rock after advanced micro-CT scanning. The newly described species, Doolysaurus huhmini, honors both a popular Korean cartoon character and paleontologist Min Huh. SciTechDaily, ScienceDaily, Discover Magazine, University of Texas News, Sci.News, and EarthSky each extensively covered the findings. Each of the bullet points immediately below have been confirmed by at least four of the six respected sources we curated on this story.

• The newly discovered species is named Doolysaurus huhmini, paying homage to “Dooly the Little Dinosaur,” a beloved Korean cartoon character.
• The fossilized skeleton belongs to a juvenile ornithischian dinosaur that lived roughly 113 to 94 million years ago during the mid-Cretaceous period.
• It represents the first new dinosaur species discovered in South Korea in 15 years, and the first to retain identifiable, diagnostic skull material.
• The remains were uncovered in 2023 on South Korea’s Aphae Island from the Ilseongsan Formation.
• Researchers used advanced micro-CT scanning to reveal the more complete skeleton hidden within the rock without damaging it.

Additional Details Reported

While the primary facts established the significance of the find, further analysis of the fossil and its surroundings offered intriguing clues about the dinosaur’s life and environment. Researchers suspect the animal may have been covered in fuzz or rudimentary feathers, a trait seen in some related species. Furthermore, gastroliths—small stomach stones used to help grind up food—were discovered alongside the bones, which implies the dinosaur might have had an omnivorous diet.

The discovery also holds a special cultural and scientific significance. The specific name, huhmini, directly honors Korean paleontologist Min Huh for his extensive contributions to dinosaur research in Korea over the years.

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