A paper suggested a paleontologist’s fossil was forged. He wants it retracted.
Nicholas Longrich would like to set the record straight. The paleontologist at the University of Bath in England and his colleagues described what they believed to be a new species of marine reptile in 2021, based on a Moroccan fossil found in a mine. But in 2024, another group of researchers questioned the fossil’s authenticity, … Continue reading A paper suggested a paleontologist’s fossil was…
Nicholas Longrich, a paleontologist at the University of Bath in England, and his team described a new species of mosasaur, Xenodens calminechari, in 2021. The fossil, found in a Moroccan mine, had unique saw-like teeth that had never been observed before in tetrapods. However, in 2024, another research group questioned the fossil's authenticity, stating that the tooth arrangement and orientation suggested it was forged.
Longrich and his colleagues published CT scans and a new specimen, claiming their discovery was genuine. When The Anatomical Record published a critique challenging the authenticity of the specimen, Longrich demanded retraction, but his request was denied. The journal maintains that retractions are not warranted for works that are disproven through legitimate scientific methods, such as CT scans.
Despite the controversy, Longrich has named numerous species of dinosaurs and mosasaurs, and his work continues to be cited.
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