Around 290 million years ago, a massive reptile, potentially a Pareiasaur, left a footprint on the shores of Hillsborough Bay in P.E.I., which was recently discovered by local resident Patrick Brunet. The fossilized footprint measures 25 centimetres in width and is considered a significant find according to the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation.
The footprint is believed to belong to a Pareiasaur, a robust herbivorous reptile weighing up to one tonne, making it the largest creature in the equatorial regions of the supercontinent Pangea during the Permian period. This era predates the existence of dinosaurs on Earth.
The recent discovery of this fossil footprint contributes to the growing collection of prehistoric reptile and amphibian fossils found in the province, potentially being the oldest-known example of its kind. Patrick Brunet, an amateur scientist, expressed his astonishment at finding such a large fossil.
Further investigations are underway to confirm the origin of the footprint, with a team of international scientists, led by Dr. John Calder from the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation, collaborating on the research. Dr. Calder emphasized the uniqueness of the find and highlighted Prince Edward Island’s emerging significance as a vital site for fossil footprints from the early Permian period.
Upon completion of the study, the fossil will be returned to the Island and added to the provincial collection, solidifying Prince Edward Island’s status among renowned sites globally for Permian Period discoveries, with its red rocks preserving the most extensive record of that era in Canada.