Newly Discovered Dinosaur From Zimbabwe Could Change What We Know About Ancient Southern African Ecosystems
The 4.5-metre dinosaur adds to Zimbabwe’s fossil record and suggests southern Africa held distinct ecosystems, researchers said.
- On Wednesday, researchers announced the discovery of Musango matusadonaensis, a new dinosaur species identified from a skeleton excavated near Lake Kariba in northern Zimbabwe in 2018, marking the fifth dinosaur identified from the country.
- Named after the Shona word for "living in the bush," Musango lived about 210 million years ago during the Late Triassic when dinosaurs were beginning to diversify across the planet.
- Weighing about 490 pounds and stretching roughly 15 feet long, Musango was estimated eight years old when it died. Evidence from its fibula revealed the dinosaur survived a serious injury or infection.
- The discovery challenges the assumption that dinosaurs across southern Africa were largely the same, said Paul Barrett, researcher at the Natural History Museum in London. The region instead contained distinct ecosystems, each supporting different species.
- Africa's fossil record remains understudied compared to Europe and North America, yet the team already has another species awaiting formal description. Barrett noted findings represent only the "tip of the iceberg" for future discoveries.
20 Articles
20 Articles
Scientists have identified a new species of dinosaur in Zimbabwe, offering an unprecedented insight into the diversity of ecosystems in the upper trias The discovery of a new dinosaur in Zimbabwe
An international team of scientists has discovered a new species of dinosaur, 210 million years old, in Zimbabwe.
New Species of Triassic Dinosaur Discovered on Shores of Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba
An international team of paleontologists has identified a new species of early sauropodomorph dinosaur in Zimbabwe, adding to growing evidence that southern Africa hosted a richer diversity of dinosaurs during the Late Triassic epoch than previously recognized. The post New Species of Triassic Dinosaur Discovered on Shores of Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
210-million-year-old dinosaur remains found in ZimbabwePaleontologists have described a new dinosaur species, Musango matusadonaensis, in Zimbabwe. The find changes the way we think about Africa's ecosystems in the Late Triassic.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
