A jar of bones long forgotten in the collections of the Natural History Museum of Utah has led scientists to uncover a brand-new species of lizard that roamed the Earth 76 million years ago. Nicknamed a “goblin-like lizard,” this prehistoric creature offers fascinating new insights into a diverse group of reptiles that lived alongside dinosaurs.
A Surprise in a Jar
The fossil remains were first discovered in 2005 at the Kaiparowits Formation within Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah - an area known for yielding rich paleontological treasures. But the bones were simply stored in a jar labeled "lizard" and went unstudied for nearly two decades.
It wasn’t until paleontologist Hank Woolley examined the jar years later that he realized the fragments belonged to an entirely new species. “There’s a partial skeleton here,” he recalled in a statement. “It’s not just scraps - it’s a significant find.”
Meet Bolg amondol
The newly named species, Bolg amondol, belonged to the monstersaur group - a lineage of armored, sharp-toothed lizards that includes the modern Gila monster. Measuring about three to four feet long, this creature would have resembled a muscular, scaled predator with bony skin and a goblin-like appearance.
The name "Bolg" comes from a goblin prince in The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, while "amondol" is derived from Tolkien’s Elvish language, Sindarin - “amon” meaning “mound” and “dol” meaning “head,” referencing the lizard’s armored skull.
“It looked like a goblin that sprang from the rocks. I think you’d want to avoid it,” Woolley told New Scientist.
Big Discoveries from Small Bones
Despite being fragmented, the fossil bones appear to belong to a single individual. There are no duplicate bones, allowing researchers to confidently reconstruct parts of its anatomy.
Randall Irmis, curator of paleontology at the Natural History Museum of Utah and co-author of the study, says the discovery not only adds to our understanding of extinct reptiles, but also paints a richer picture of what the Late Cretaceous ecosystem was like in North America.
“This find highlights a previously unknown diversity of large predatory lizards living alongside dinosaurs,” he said. “It shows just how complex and thriving that ancient environment truly was.”
Goblin Lizard’s Place in History
These monstersaur fossils show that at least three major types of carnivorous lizards lived in this region during the same era. It suggests a stable and productive ecosystem with a wide variety of species occupying different ecological niches.
Joseph Sertich, a study co-author and Smithsonian paleontologist who first discovered the fossils, adds: “Any reconstruction of prehistoric North American forests should include these fierce, dinosaur-hunting lizards moving through the undergrowth.”
Why It Matters
Experts not involved in the study also note the broader significance of the discovery. “Even terrifying predators like Bolg can disappear,” said Randall Nydam, a vertebrate paleontologist at Midwestern University, emphasizing the fragility of life in all forms—even the most dangerous.
Interestingly, Bolg’s closest living relatives are found today in the Gobi Desert of Asia. This supports the idea of prehistoric migration routes between continents, including via the Bering Land Bridge that once connected Asia and North America during the Cretaceous period.
“It’s a reminder that smaller creatures traveled the same ancient superhighways as the dinosaurs,” Woolley told Courthouse News.
Fossils Still Have Stories to Tell
This discovery underscores the hidden value of museum collections and how they can still produce major scientific breakthroughs, even years later. What was once just a jar labeled “lizard” is now a critical piece of the puzzle in understanding the evolution and diversity of ancient reptiles.
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