A University of Texas paleontologist has discovered fossils of prehistoric animals in a Central Texas cave that have never been found in the region before.<\/p>\n
COMAL COUNTY, Texas \u2014 A Texas paleontologist has made a discovery that could re-write what scientists know about prehistoric life in the state.<\/p>\n
In March, John Moretti, a paleontologist with the University of Texas at Austin, discovered a treasure trove of ancient fossils inside a cave in Comal County, the university said.<\/p>\n
Fossils that have never been found in Central Texas before.<\/p>\n
According to the university, Moretti discovered fossils from a giant tortoise and a creature called a pampathere, a prehistoric relative of the armadillo that could reportedly grow to about the size of a lion.<\/p>\n
Moretti reportedly found shell and armor fragments from the ancient animals, along with dozens of other fossils while conducting the first paleontological study of a Texas water cave, according to UT.<\/p>\n
Other fossils found at the site reportedly include bones from saber-tooth cats, camels and mastodons and a claw from a giant ground sloth.<\/p>\n
Moretti made the discovery while snorkeling for fossils in an underground stream, according to the university. The cave where the fossils were found, called Bender’s Cave, is reportedly located on private property in Comal County.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were fossils everywhere, just everywhere, in a way that I haven\u2019t seen in any other cave,\u201d said Moretti, who the university said recently earned his doctoral degree from the UT Jackson School of Geosciences. \u201cIt was just bones all over the floor.\u201d<\/p>\n
The University of Texas said the fossils could be from the last interglacial period, a warm period that took place around 100,000 years ago during the last ice age. According to the university, the discovery is significant, as no fossils from this time period have been discovered in the Central Texas region before.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis site is showing us something different, and that\u2019s really important because of all the work that\u2019s been done in this region,\u201d Moretti said. \u201cIf it is interglacial in age, it\u2019s a new window into the past and into a landscape, environment and animal community that we haven\u2019t observed in this part of Texas before.\u201d<\/p>\n