Red Blood Cells in a Dinosaur Bone

All articles by Wretch Fossil are here: http://www.wretch.cc/blog/lin440315&category_id=0

Abstract

An enlarged and color-enhanced close-up image reveals striking red, circular structures embedded within a fossilized dinosaur bone found in Canada. These structures closely resemble red blood cells (RBCs) in size, shape, and clustering pattern, and appear consistent with previously published claims of fossilized dinosaur RBCs. This article examines whether these structures are biogenic or the result of abiotic mineral growth, drawing on morphological comparison with both terrestrial RBCs and known dinosaur soft-tissue preservation cases.

Introduction

The preservation of soft tissues in fossilized dinosaur bones has reshaped our understanding of molecular and cellular fossilization. A photograph enhanced using the Zeke filter and magnified 800% reveals circular reddish structures within a dinosaur bone discovered in Canada. These features invite comparison to putative dinosaur RBCs reported in studies like Bertazzo et al. (2015, Nature Communications), which first described iron-rich, cellular-scale structures within Cretaceous dinosaur fossils.

Observations

- Numerous red or orange, spherical to oval features are visible within a mineral matrix.
– These features appear slightly raised and semi-translucent under lighting.
– Estimated sizes range between 5–15 µm, consistent with the known range of RBCs in vertebrates.
– Clustering occurs in loose associations, reminiscent of blood smears.

Comparison to Known RBC Morphology

Typical RBCs in vertebrates range from 5 to 20 µm in diameter, are biconcave in shape (though this may not preserve), and appear red under light microscopy or SEM due to iron-rich hemoglobin. The observed structures in the figure share these dimensions and circular morphology, aligning well with putative RBCs described by Bertazzo et al. (2015).

Abiotic Alternatives

Abiotic mineral structures such as hematite spherules or micromineral nodules can mimic circular appearance. However, these usually exhibit more crystalline outlines, inconsistent spacing, or irregular textures. The observed patterning and size uniformity make a purely mineral origin less likely, though not impossible without chemical verification.

Implications and Future Study

If these structures are indeed fossilized red blood cells, this specimen adds to the growing evidence that cellular preservation is more common in fossil bones than previously believed. Further investigation through SEM-EDS, Raman spectroscopy, or synchrotron imaging would be necessary to confirm biogenicity.

Figure 1

Red circular microstructures possibly representing fossil red blood cells in a dinosaur bone from Canada. Image enlarged 800% and Zeke-filtered. Original source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fossil_lin/54771428874/in/dateposted-public/. Estimated size of the circular structures is 5–15 µm. Scale bar inserted manually from image metadata. 

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Source: https://wretchfossil.blogspot.com/2025/09/red-blood-cells-in-dinosaur-bone.html