What you need to know
The 75-foot-long sauropod skeleton will make its debut this fall in the Natural History Museum’s new NHM Commons. Deposits of the mineral celadonite give the dinosaur, discovered in Utah in 2007, a green glow. The museum asked the public to vote for a new name in early June, offering up five catchy suggestions; Gnatalie was the winner.
Dinosaurs weren’t exactly fashionable. The ancient beasts weren’t known for their high sense of style or their ability to match their shoes, belts, handbags, and hats. But in the right conditions, dinosaurs could be, well, pretty stylish.
That means every time we attend a barbecue or picnic we are covered in those familiar little insects we avoid time and time again: gnats.
About 17 years ago, paleontologists made a very surprising, yet extremely remarkable, discovery in Utah: the remains of a sauropod. In fact, it was a “new species of sauropod,” or at least a species that scientists had never seen before.
There were so many gnats at the excavation site that dinosaur experts started calling the sauropod the catchy name “gnathalii.”
Never let it be said that paleontologists aren’t a playful bunch: after all, they are the ultimate dinosaur fanatics in a world where almost everyone else is obsessed with the giant Jurassic superstars.
The unpleasant nickname stuck, becoming a name that no one wanted to shake off.
When the Natural History Museum, which will be the sauropod’s new permanent home from autumn 2024, asked the public to choose a name for the incredible discovery, “Gnathalie” created a buzz and was chosen over four other names.
All of these names are inspired by the color green: Gnatalii has a green, or greenish, color thanks to celadonite, a mineral that is found in abundant deposits throughout the fossil find site.
Were we giving away a lead with the “this dinosaur is green” part? Well, considering Gnathalie has been buried for millions of years, you’ll be forgiven for finally arriving at that fanciful fact.
More than 8,000 votes were cast, with about a third of voters choosing Gunatari.
The Natural History Museum made the announcement on June 25, but it was premature, and dinosaur lovers are excited about Southern California’s newest resident.
Because, the truth is, everyone in the Los Angeles area is always eager to know the names of up-and-coming young celebrities who have the potential to make local and global headlines.
With that in mind, meet Southern California’s next star: Gunatalee, a man who’s not millions of years younger, but who is not only remarkable but, indeed, one could say, a star who can be gung-ho.
So while Gunnaree was once prone to mosquito bites, this autumn inside the new NHM Commons they are leaving their mosquito past behind and heading towards a brighter future.
