Rare Dinosaur Tooth Unearthed in Western Japan

Mar 29, 2026 | News On Japan

Tokushima, Mar 29, 2026 (News On Japan) - A fossilized lower jaw tooth of an iguanodontian dinosaur, dating back approximately 130 million years, has been discovered in Tokushima Prefecture and is now on display at a local museum.

The fossil, exhibited at the Tokushima Prefectural Museum, was identified as part of the lower jaw of an iguanodontian dinosaur.

It was unearthed from a geological layer in Katsura Town dating to the Early Cretaceous period, around 130 million years ago.

This marks the first time a lower jaw tooth of this kind has been discovered in the prefecture, with the specimen measuring 29.5 millimeters in length and 20 millimeters in width, making it one of the largest dinosaur teeth found in the area.

A tourist visiting from Kobe said, "It's amazing to think that dinosaurs once lived in Tokushima. I'd love to learn more about that ancient time."

Researchers say further investigations may lead to the discovery of additional jaw fossils in the future.

Source: KTV NEWS

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