Nova Scotia’s Newest Fossil Discovery: Meet Dendromaia unamakiensis

We’re excited to introduce you to Dendromaia unamakiensis, Brian Hebert’s remarkable new fossil discovery recently published in the prestigious journal Nature.

The name Dendromaia means “tree mother,” while unamakiensis comes from the traditional Mi’kmaq word for Cape Breton — the region where this extraordinary fossil was found.

What makes this discovery so unique is the presence of a juvenile fossil preserved right beside the adult. Both animals resemble modern‑day lizards and were fossilized together inside a hollowed‑out tree roughly 309 million years ago near Sydney, Cape Breton.

This pairing may represent the oldest evidence of parental care in amniotes — the first animals capable of laying eggs on land. It’s a rare and scientifically significant glimpse into early life on Earth and how ancient species may have protected their young.

Brian has been collaborating with Dr. Hillary Madden and the Earth Sciences team at Carleton University for several years, and he is grateful for their dedication to studying Nova Scotia’s fossil heritage. This discovery marks an exciting milestone, and Brian looks forward to continuing this important work with the research team.

We’re incredibly proud to see Nova Scotia’s prehistoric story grow once again — and to celebrate another discovery that highlights the richness of our province’s natural history.