Tag Archives: Sauropod

How Young Sauropod Dinosaurs Shaped the Food Chain in the Morrison Formation

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A recent research study by palaeontologists at University College London reveals that the long-necked giant hatchlings of the past frequently became prey to various carnivores, including the iconic tyrannosaurus rex.

A reconstruction of the Late Jurassic ecosystem at the Dry Mesa Dinosaur Quarry, approximately 150 million years ago in Colorado, USA. Image credit: Sergey Krasovskiy / Pedro Salas.

“Adult sauropods, such as diplodocus and Brachiosaurus, were larger than modern blue whales,” Dr. Cassius Morrison from University College London explains.

“The ground trembled when they moved. Yet, their eggs were merely a foot in diameter, taking years for the hatchlings to mature.”

“Given their immense size, it was challenging for adult sauropods to tend to their eggs without causing damage, suggesting that, like today’s baby turtles, young sauropods did not receive parental care.”

In this groundbreaking study, Dr. Morrison and his team examined fossils from the Morrison Formation dating back 150 million years and developed a detailed map of the ecosystem’s food web.

The fossils were sourced from a single site, the Dry Mesa Dinosaur Quarry, renowned for its rich assortment of dinosaur remains over a span of up to 10,000 years, including at least six sauropod species: diplodocus, Brachiosaurus, and Apatosaurus.

To analyze the dietary habits of these prehistoric creatures, paleontologists utilized various data, including dinosaur size, tooth wear, isotopic composition of remains, and, in some cases, fossilized stomach contents revealing their last meals.

With advanced software typically used in modern-day ecosystems, they visualized the intricate food web, mapping the interconnected relationships between dinosaurs, other fauna, and flora with unprecedented detail.

The findings underscored the significant ecological roles sauropods played, highlighting their closer associations with plants and animals compared to other major herbivorous dinosaur groups, such as the ornithischians (like the armored stegosaurus), which presented more formidable predation risks.

“Sauropods had a transformative influence on their ecosystems,” noted Dr. Morrison.

“This research provides a quantifiable measure of their ecological impact.”

“By reconstructing the food web, we can more effectively compare dinosaur ecosystems across different geological periods.”

Scientists suggest that the eventual decline of sauropods, which acted as readily available prey, may have influenced evolutionary adaptations in predators like tyrannosaurus rex, such as increased bite force, size, and enhanced vision. Moreover, larger and more dangerous creatures like triceratops evolved, possessing formidable defenses with their three large horns.

During the late Jurassic period, apex predators like Allosaurus or torvosaurus might have had easier access to food compared to their contemporaries like tyrannosaurus rex, according to Dr. William Hart, a paleontologist at Hofstra University.

“Fossils of Allosaurus display severe scars from encounters, including those inflicted by the spiky tail of a stegosaurus. Some injuries healed, while others did not,” he elaborates.

“However, an injured Allosaurus may have been able to survive due to the abundance of vulnerable young sauropods as easy prey.”

The team’s research findings will be published in the Bulletin of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science.

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Cassius Morrison et al. 2026. “Size is No Accident Here”: A Novel Food Web Analysis of the Dry Mesa Dinosaur Quarry and Ecological Implications for Sauropod Fauna of the Morrison Formation. Bulletin of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science

Source: www.sci.news

Ancient Sauropod Dinosaur Footprint, Dating Back 150 Million Years, Found in Colorado

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Paleontologists conducted an analysis of the path taken by an exceptionally long sauropod at the West Gold Hill Dinosaur Tracking Station in Colorado, USA. Their findings suggest that the massive dinosaurs responsible for it might have exhibited a limp.

Aerial view of the West Gold Hill dinosaur track site in Colorado, USA. Image credit: USDA Forest Service.

Paleontologist Anthony Romilio from the University of Queensland and his team examined over 130 footprints along a 95.5-meter trail that dates back 150 million years.

“This is a remnant from the late Jurassic period, a time when long-necked dinosaurs like diplodocus and camarasaurus thrived across North America,” stated Dr. Romilio.

“This track is particularly special because it forms a complete loop.”

“Although the reason for the dinosaur’s turnaround remains unclear, this trajectory provides a rare chance to analyze how the substantial sauropod executed a sharp turn before returning to its original direction.”

“The scale of the West Gold Hill Dinosaur Track necessitated a novel approach,” remarked Paul Murphy, a paleontologist from the San Diego Museum of Natural History.

“Given the size of the tracks, capturing these footprints from the ground proved to be quite challenging.”

“We utilized a drone to photograph the entire track in high resolution.”

“These images can now be leveraged to create detailed 3D models that can be digitally examined in the lab with millimeter-level accuracy.”

The virtual model reconstructed the sauropod’s movement throughout the entire path.

“It became evident right away that this animal started moving northeast, looped around, and ultimately ended up facing the same direction,” Dr. Romilio explained.

“Within that circular path, we discovered subtle yet consistent indications of its behavior.”

“A notable observation was the variance in width between the left and right footprints, which changed from very narrow to distinctly wide.”

“This transition from narrow to wide footprints suggests that the width may naturally fluctuate as dinosaurs walked. This implies that short segments of seemingly uniform width could misrepresent their typical walking style.”

“We also noted a small but ongoing difference in stride length of roughly 10 cm (4 inches) between the left and right sides.”

“It’s challenging to determine if this signifies a limp or merely a preference for one side.”

“Many extensive dinosaur trails worldwide could benefit from this method to uncover previously hidden behavioral insights.”

The team’s study was published in the journal Geography.

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Anthony Romilio et al. 2025. Track by track: West Gold Hill Dinosaur Tracking Site (Upper Jurassic, Bluff Sandstone, Colorado) reveals sauropod rotation and lateralized gait. Geography 5(4):67;doi: 10.3390/geomatics5040067

Source: www.sci.news

New Sauropod Dinosaur Species Discovered in Museum Collection

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Fossil brain box and partial skull roof Carnegie Museum of Natural History. This specimen underwent reevaluation and was reclassified, resulting in the establishment of a new genus and species of sauropod dinosaur from the Dicraeosauridae family: athena bellmani.

Holotype brain case of athena bellmani. Image credit: Whitlock et al., doi: 10.26879/1550.

The dinosaur athena bellmani inhabited what is now Utah, USA, during the Late Jurassic Period, approximately 151 to 150 million years ago.

This specimen, designated Carnegie Museum (CM) Specimen 26552, was first discovered in 1913 in the Morrison Formation at the Carnegie Quarry in Dinosaur National Monument.

So far, the specimens have been assigned to a genus of sauropod dinosaurs known as diplodocus.

Dr. John Whitlock, a researcher at Mount Aloysius College and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, commented, “The Carnegie Museum of Natural History contains some of the most significant specimens for understanding the cranial anatomy of diplodocoid sauropods.”

“One specimen, CM 26552, is frequently overlooked in favor of a more complete skull; however, it holds immense historical significance as it provided the foundation for modern descriptions of brain case anatomy in the diplodocus genus.”

“In view of new discoveries since its initial description in 1978, we are reassessing the anatomical and taxonomic relationships of this specimen.”

The new analysis indicates that CM 26552’s characteristics align more closely with another group of sauropods, the Dicraeosauridae.

“CM 26552 showcases mosaic features that distinctly separate it from other known North American dicraeosaur species,” the paleontologists noted.

“Based on this evidence, we are assigning CM 26552 to a new genus: athena, with the specific name bellmani.”

Research has also revealed that athena bellmani is closely related to dicraeosaurids like Swasea.

The researchers stated, “Considering CM 26552 as a new species of Dicraeosaurina enhances our understanding of this family’s diversity in the Morrison Formation and North America broadly, thus enriching the historically underrepresented sauropod diversity of this region.”

The findings have been published in an online journal this month: Old Trogia Electronica.

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John A. Whitlock et al. 2025. athena bellmani, a new species of dicraeosaur sauropod discovered from Dinosaur National Monument in Utah, USA. Old Trogia Electronica 28 (3): a50; doi: 10.26879/1550

Source: www.sci.news

Huayracursor jaguensis Fossil Challenges Prevailing Theories on the Evolution of Sauropod Neck Lengths

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Triassic dinosaur illustration Huayracursor jaguensis

Jorge Blanco.

Deep in Argentina’s Andes Mountains, paleontologists have uncovered the remains of a small dinosaur, giving insight into the early adaptations that characterized sauropod dinosaurs, specifically the extended neck seen in diplodocus.

The fossil, named Huayracursor jaguensis, represents a partial skeleton of a creature that roamed the Earth during the Triassic period, roughly 230 million years ago. It is estimated to have measured around 2 meters in length and weighed about 18 kilograms.

Subsequent sauropods like brontosaurus and Patagotitan would grow to impressive sizes—over 35 meters long and weighing more than 70 tons, marking them as the largest and longest-necked animals in history.

Previously, scientists believed that the ancestors of these long-necked, herbivorous dinosaurs were small, short-necked, and possibly even omnivorous.

At the same time, other smaller sauropods, such as homo jaguensis, measured approximately 1 meter and displayed no signs of elongated neck bones, unlike the newly identified species. This led paleontologists to think that substantial growth in size and neck elongation in sauropods didn’t occur until millions of years later.

The discovery of homo jaguensis at Santo Domingo Creek in northwestern Argentina has prompted a reevaluation of how these dinosaurs developed their iconic long necks, according to Martin Hechenleitner from Argentina’s National Council for Scientific and Technical Research.

“Waila cursor presents a different narrative than the gradual transition model,” Hechenleitner points out. “This is evident since it coexisted with closely related species that were smaller and had relatively shorter necks.”

This dinosaur had a small skull, muscular hind limbs, slender hips, and notably short arms, with relatively large and robust hands compared to other dinosaurs of its era.

This suggests that the traits of increased size and neck elongation emerged early in this evolutionary line, Hechenleitner explains.

“Waila cursor allows us to trace the origins of elongated necks and larger body sizes back to the dawn of dinosaurs in the fossil record,” he says, referencing species like argentinosaurus and Patagotitan, which emerged from a lineage that originated over 100 million years ago, with early bipedal forms measuring just over a meter long and weighing between 10 and 15 kilograms.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Britain Discovers Europe’s Longest Sauropod Dinosaur Footprint

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In 2024, a remarkable discovery was made at Dewar’s Farm Quarry, located near Bicester, Oxfordshire, England, where new large sauropod dinosaur footprints were found. This year, palaeontologists from Oxford University, Birmingham University, Liverpool John Moores University, and the Oxford University Museum of Natural History uncovered approximately 200 additional footprints comprising four distinct tracks, including Europe’s longest sauropod dinosaur track.

A 166-million-year-old sauropod dinosaur footprint at Dewar’s Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire, England. Image credit: University of Birmingham.

The four newly discovered tracks at Dewar’s Farm Quarry date back to the Middle Jurassic period, approximately 166 million years ago.

These belong to sauropod dinosaurs, which are characterized as large-bodied, long-necked herbivores. Cetiosaurus.

Among these discoveries is Europe’s longest sauropod dinosaur footprint, extending roughly 220 meters from the first exposed footprint to the last.

Professor Kirsty Edgar from the University of Birmingham commented: “We were thrilled to return to the Dewar’s Farm quarry earlier this year to continue our excavation and unveil further dinosaur footprints.”

“This site in Oxfordshire boasts the largest dinosaur footprint in the UK and is likely the largest dinosaur footprint in the world that has been mapped, considering previous discoveries from the 1990s on the same surface nearby.”

Over seven days, the team faced a much drier and harder surface compared to previous years, concentrating on about 80 very large (up to 1 meter) sauropod footprints that create a remarkable trajectory running roughly north-south across the site.

In addition to the extensive sauropod track, three other shorter tracks were revealed, one of which is a continuation of a trace initially discovered in 2022.

While these findings may not be published continuously, the accumulation of data could lead to even longer orbital patterns.

Minor discoveries at the site included marine invertebrates, plant material, and a crocodile jaw.

Professor Richard Butler from the University of Birmingham stated: “Most of what we comprehend about dinosaurs is derived from their skeletons, but dinosaur footprints and deposits can offer valuable insights into how these creatures lived and the environments they inhabited over 166 million years ago.”

“A significant aspect of this latest excavation involves systematic sampling of the sediments associated with the footprints and those filling the footprints, which are currently under analysis to better understand the environment in which they were formed and how they have been preserved.”

“It is likely that additional footprint surfaces will be uncovered in the coming years, and a comprehensive explanation of their significance, new scientific findings, and potential future conservation of the site will be published soon.”

Source: www.sci.news

Triassic Sauropod Dinosaur Fossils Unearthed in Switzerland

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Paleontologists have unearthed the skeletal remains of a completely new and unnamed Masopodan Sauropodmorph dinosaur in the Cretgau Formation of Canton Aargau, Switzerland.

Clear skull of a new Masopodian sauropod dinosaur in view on the right. Scale bar – 5 cm. Image credits: Lanier et al., doi: 10.1186/s13358-025-00373-6.

The newly found fossil is estimated to be from the late Triassic Epoch Norian period, around 206 million years ago.

This dinosaur was previously associated with an unidentified member of Masopoda, a vast group of Sauropodmorph dinosaurs that existed during the late Triassic to late Cretaceous epochs.

“Among Mesozoic terrestrial vertebrates, Sauropodomorpha stands out as one of the most successful dinosaur clades, becoming a dominant herbivore component in both Late Triassic and Jurassic paleoecosystems, with a wide global distribution from Antarctica to Greenland,” stated Dr. Alessandro Lania from the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn and his Swiss colleagues.

“The origin of Sauropodmorph can be traced back to the early late Triassic on the Gondwanan continent, with the oldest examples found in Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, and North America.”

“Based on the South American fossil record, we offer a detailed understanding of the early evolution of sauropods, moving away from a limited number of strains characterized by small size, bipedal locomotion, and a carnivorous diet. This heralds a shift to medium and large body plans, quadrupedal dynamics, and a transition to herbivorous habits in the Norian-Flyzia period.”

Moreover, this notable increase in the diversity of Sauropodmorph in South Pangea during the Norian period is evident through the emergence of new major lineages like Masopoda and Sauropodiformo, marking a significant morphological divergence.

The partially complete skeleton of the new Masopodan Sauropodmorph was discovered in 2013 at the top of the fossil horizon within the Gruharde members of the Kretgau Formation in Flick, Canton Aargau, Switzerland.

“The Kretgau Formation represents one of the most extensive stratigraphic sequences of the Late Triassic in Europe, consisting of a diverse, petrologically heterogeneous series of deposits spanning approximately 26 to 30 million years, from early Karnians to late Lechan,” explained the paleontologist.

“The Kretgau Formation can be seen in various locations across Switzerland, documenting discontinuous sequences of varied Playa deposits influenced by river and oceanic processes, reflecting several lateral paleoenvironmental shifts throughout the stratigraphy.”

This new specimen signifies the first den Plate Saurus of the Canton Aargau sauropods and Swiss sauropods from the 4th Triassic, distinguishing them from non-Sauropodian Sauropodmorph.

“Osteologic investigations combined with morphological comparisons have clarified the anatomy of mosaic cranial cephalogenesis, integrating typical features of non-masopodian plasal aurians and Masopodian sauropods, like Coloradisaurus Brevis from Argentina,” the researcher commented.

According to the authors, this dinosaur represents the first non-Sauropod-type masopodian from Laurasia.

“Interestingly, this scenario raises the hypothesis of the European origins of early Jurassic Masopodans from late Triassic Asia, though more evidence is needed to substantiate this,” they stated.

“Additionally, these fossils enhance our understanding of cranial variability and body diversity in Norian sauropodomorphs in Laurasia, paralleling those in Gondwana, particularly in South America and Africa.”

The team’s paper was published this month in the Swiss Journal of Palaeontology.

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A. Rania et al. 2025. Cranial osteology of the new Masopodan Sauropodmorph (dinosaurs: saury) from the late Triassic period (latest Norian) of Switzerland. Swiss J Palaeontol 144, 39; doi:10.1186/s13358-025-00373-6

Source: www.sci.news

Discovery of a Gigantic New Sauropod Dinosaur Species in China

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Chinese paleontologists have uncovered the fossilized skeleton of the colossal Mamenchisaurus dinosaurs, heralding a remarkable new genus from the late Jurassic epoch.

Fossil remains of Tongnanlong Zhimingi. Image credit: Wei et al., doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-09796-0.

The newly identified species inhabited southwestern China approximately 147 million years ago (late Jurassic epoch).

Scientifically designated as Tongnanlong Zhimingi, this sauropod dinosaur measured around 23-28 m (75.5-92 feet) in length.

“Sauropods are enormous, herbivorous quadrupeds and represent the largest terrestrial dinosaurs that ever existed,” remarked Dr. Xuefang Wei, a researcher from the Western Center for China Geological Survey.

“They first appeared in the late Triassic period, spread globally by the Middle Jurassic, and ultimately went extinct at the end of the late Cretaceous period.”

More than 150 genera have been documented, including over 20 genera from the Jurassic period within China.

“Southwest China is a significant area for Jurassic sauropod discoveries, particularly in the Sichuan Basin,” they added.

The sauropod fauna found in the Jurassic Sichuan Basin was once considered an endemic population distinct from the terrestrial fauna of Pangaea.

This distribution was often explained by the East Asian seclusion hypothesis, suggested to have occurred between the Jurassic and early Cretaceous periods.

However, this hypothesis faces challenges from recent phylogenetic analyses conducted in China, as well as the discovery of Neosaurupod dinosaurs, including a Mamenchisaur dinosaur found in Africa.

The holotype specimen of Tongnanlong Zhimingi was excavated from a construction site in the Dongnan district of the Chonging region within the Sichuan Basin.

This includes three dorsal vertebrae, six caudal vertebrae, scapulae, coracoids, and hind limb bones.

“Our fieldwork indicates that the fossil site belongs to the upper part of the Jurassic. The Monitor formations are situated above Quaternary sediments,” noted the paleontologist.

“The Sorning Formation is composed of purple-red mudstone and sandstone.”

“The layer is rich in invertebrate fossils, including various freshwater Conchostracans, particularly ostracods and stone trails.”

Several vertebrates are identified from this layer, such as fish Ceratodus szechuanensis, turtle Plesiochelys Tatsuensis, and dinosaurs like Mamenchisaurus anyuensis.

Anatomical and phylogenetic studies affirmed that Tongnanlong Zhimingi is part of the sauropod dinosaur family Mamenchisauridae.

“Mamenchisauridae was not a fauna confined to East Asia, but rather had a global distribution during the late Jurassic period,” the researchers concluded.

“Tongnanlong Zhimingi enhances the diversity of Eusauraupods and offers new insights into sauropod diversity and evolutionary developments from the mid-Jurassic to the Late Jurassic as they increased in size.”

Their study was published in the journal Scientific Reports on July 10th.

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X. Wei et al. 2025. New Mamenchisaurus discoveries monitoring the Upper Jurassic formations in the Sichuan Basin, China and their implications for sauropod gigantism. Sci Rep 15, 24808; doi:10.1038/s41598-025-09796-0

Source: www.sci.news

Paleontologists Discover Fossilized Intestinal Contents from Sauropod Dinosaurs

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Diamantinasaurus Mathilde, which existed approximately 94 million years ago during the mid-Cretaceous period, primarily consumed conifers, ferns, flowering plants, and utilized intestinal microorganisms for digestion almost entirely. You can learn more about it at the Winton Formation in Queensland, Australia.

Artist’s impression of Diamantinasaurus Mathilde (Judy). Image credit: Travis Tischler.

Understanding dinosaur diets is essential for grasping their paleontology and their roles in Mesozoic ecosystems.

Nevertheless, while many non-avian dinosaurs are interpreted as herbivores based on their anatomy, only a few fossils provide tangible evidence in the form of coprolites (fossilized intestinal contents).

Out of the thousands of herbivorous non-avian dinosaur specimens identified globally, only three have shown likely or atypical gut contents, all of which belong to armored theropod dinosaurs preserved in marine layers.

Other herbivorous non-avian dinosaur specimens with fossilized gut contents include hadrosaurid ornithopods found in river environments.

Thus, the intestinal contents of sauropod dinosaurs—arguably the most ecologically significant large terrestrial herbivores during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods—remain largely unexplored due to their immense size.

“Since the 19th century, paleontologists have universally classified sauropods as herbivores,” stated Dr. Stephen Polopat, deputy director of the Western Australian Centre for Organic and Isotope Geochemistry at Curtin University.

“However, the specific plants they consumed and the heights from which they fed remained largely unknown until now.”

Dr. Polopat and his team examined the fossilized intestines of a specimen of Diamantinasaurus Mathilde informally referred to as Judy.

This fossil was discovered at a site near Winton and excavated in 2017 by museum staff and citizen scientists at the Australian Dinosaurs’ Museum of Natural History.

Among Judy’s stomach contents, paleontologists identified pinus and bracts from tall coniferous trees, as well as leaves and fruits originating from small seeds and flowering plants.

“The findings indicated that sauropods consumed a variety of plants from different levels above the ground, contributing to their long-term survival and adaptability,” Dr. Polopat remarked.

“The stomach contents we analyzed belonged to a 12-meter-long sub-adult sauropod.”

“Our research shows that several types of sub-adult sauropods could feed at varying heights and adapt to diverse climatic, environmental, and vegetation changes during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.”

“We also verified that sauropods exhibited bulk-feeding, similar to methods utilized by herbivorous reptiles and birds today.”

“This implies they did not chew their food but swallowed it whole, allowing their digestive systems to process it completely.”

“Any meal would have lingered in their gastrointestinal tracts for as long as two weeks before being excreted.”

“Finally, the ability to observe sauropod stomach contents for the first time corroborated prior hypotheses regarding their dietary behavior.”

“Sauropods were remarkable creatures that roamed the planet for over 130 million years. Understanding their dietary patterns is crucial for comprehending their impact on the Earth’s ecosystem, particularly concerning plants and other herbivorous species.”

“Further research is necessary, and ideally, we aim to discover additional sauropod fossils containing stomach contents to ascertain whether their feeding habits evolved as they matured, especially regarding their consumption of growing plants.”

Professor Kliti Grice, founder of Curtin University’s Western Australian Centre for Organic and Isotope Geochemistry, expressed:

“Utilizing advanced organic geochemical methods, we confirmed the existence of both angiosperms and growth structures within the diet of this sauropod.”

The team’s research paper is published in the journal Current Biology.

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Stephen F. Polopat et al. 2025. The contents of the fossilized intestine reveal the feeding habits of sauropod dinosaurs. Current Biology 35 (11): 2597-2613; doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.053

Source: www.sci.news

Sauropod Dinosaur’s Last Meal Shows He Wasn’t Concerned With Chewing

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Artistic depiction of Diamantinasaurus matildae, a 94 million-year-old sauropod dinosaur

Travis Tischler

The study of fossilized intestinal contents belonging to sauropod dinosaurs marks the first significant finding that confirms the largest terrestrial animals were high-fiber herbivores with minimal chewing behavior.

The specimen, known as Judy of the Diamantinasaurus matildae, was discovered in May 2017 in Winton, Queensland, Australia.

Shortly after Judy’s death around 94 to 100 million years ago, scavengers disturbed her remains; however, most of her body remained intact, including a calcified patch of skin. Notably, her preserved intestinal contents revealed a diverse range of plant matter.

Previously, paleontologists inferred the vegetarian diet of sauropods mainly from their skull and jaw structures, but lacked direct evidence regarding their dietary habits.

“It’s impressive to see Judy, as she may not conform to the typical characteristics we expect of other sauropods,” stated Stephen Polopat, part of the excavation and analysis team from Curtin University in Perth, Australia.

Measuring approximately 11 meters long with a 4-meter neck and a 3.3-meter tail, Judy was likely still a juvenile when she died. Her skin and intestinal samples will be displayed at the Australian-era Dinosaur Museum in Winton starting June 9.

“This gives us a clearer understanding of Judy’s overall size and form, aspects that previous Australian sauropod fossils have not illustrated,” he pointed out.

Polopat noted that her belly was “full” of plant material, emphasizing that it appeared the plants were simply ingested without much processing. “It’s not a matter of bloating in the mouth; it’s a case of cut and swallow.”

He suggested that the substantial plant matter present in Judy’s digestive tract likely facilitated the release of significant methane by the massive creature.

“Uncovering tangible evidence of extinct species like giant dinosaurs is always thrilling,” remarked John Long, who was not affiliated with the study, from Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia. “If all we had was a panda bear skull, we might assume their diet is similar to other bears’ — not solely bamboo.”

“Speculation has been common regarding these titanic beings’ plant-based diets. Now we know they consumed a variety of vegetation from various levels, including both ground and tree branches,” Long concluded.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Newly discovered sauropod dinosaur species found in Argentina

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The new genus and species of the Levubatisaurus sauropod dinosaur are explained from fossils discovered in the paleontological region of Neuken, Argentina.

Reconstructing the life of Cienciargentina Sanchezi. Image credit: Connor Ashbridge / CC by 4.0.

The newly discovered dinosaurs roamed the globe during the late Cretaceous period, about 94 million years ago.

It has been named Cienciargentina Sanchezithe species is the earliest member of the Diplodocoid Dinosaur family. Rebbachisauridae It has been known up to this point.

Rebbachisaurids diversified primarily into the supercontinent Gondwana during the early and late Cretaceous periods.

These dinosaurs are known for fragmented fossil ruins from South America, Africa, North America, Europe and possibly Central Asia.

They are distinguished from other sauropods by their distinctive teeth. Some species had similar species to the hadrosaurus and Serratopsian dinosaur species.

“The first South American Rebbachisaurid Sauropods were recognized based on materials from the vicinity of the Candeleros and Huincul Formations of Vira El Chocon (Neuken, Argentina)”

“The material of Rebbachisaurid from the Huincul layer, along with the material of the Bajovaler layer, is particularly relevant as it has probably been completely extincted.”

Fossilized Materials Cienciargentina Sanchezi Found around Villa El Chocon Huincul Layer.

“This new species will be added to the list of Levubacisauld sauropods documented in the Huncuru Formation (Upper Cenomanian Turonian), which is considered to be the world’s latest diplodocoid,” the paleontologist said.

“In fact, since the Tronian, the sauropod community has been made up of only macronalians, mostly giants.”

“In Patagonia, the hypothetical fauna rotation that occurred in the middle of the Cretaceous period, involving not only white pods but other groups of dinosaurs, is likely observed anywhere else in South America.”

a paper Describing Discovery was published in the journal this month Cretaceous Research.

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Maria Edith Simon and Leonardo Salgado. New Rebbachisaurid (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the huincule formation (Upper Cenomanian Turonian) of Villa El Chocon (Nuken, Argentina). Cretaceous ResearchPublisherd Online April 9, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106137

Source: www.sci.news

New sauropod dinosaur species uncovered by paleontologists in China

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newly discovered dinosaur species, Richeron WangiIt is central to the transition from early sauropods to sauropods. paper Published in a magazine Peer J.

Photograph of the skull (A) and interpretive line drawing (B) Richeron Wangi In right side view. Image credit: Wei Gao.

Richeron Wangi They roamed the Laurasian supercontinent during the early Jurassic period, about 193 million years ago.

This new species was a non-sauropod dinosaur in the clade. Masopoda.

“Non-sauropod sauropods were the dominant sauropods from the Norian period (227 to 208 million years ago) to the end of the Early Jurassic period (175 million years ago). “They were the main group of herbivores until they were replaced,” Dr. Qian said. Nan Zhang is a paleontologist at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology and the Nanjing Institute of Science. Department of Geology and Paleontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and colleagues.

“Since Thecodontosaurus Since it was first established, more than 40 valid nonsauropod sauropods have been reported worldwide. ”

“Most of these genera were identified from Gondwana and recovered primarily from South America and southern Africa.”

“The Early Jurassic was a critical period for tracing the early radiation and diversification of sauropod dinosaurs,” the researchers added.

“Nearly all of the non-sauropods currently recovered in China have been reported from Yunnan Province, and the Early Jurassic Lufeng Formation is the most fossil-rich Mesozoic unit in the province.”

“Despite the well-preserved and abundant nature of these Lufeng materials, comparative studies and cladistic analyzes have underestimated the number of rare skulls in particular.”

Richeron WangiA partial skeleton of was recovered from the middle-upper part of the Shawan Formation of the Lufeng Formation near Jiutou Village, Yunnan Province, China.

The specimen includes a skull and mandible, as well as a nine-articulated cervical vertebrae.

“This new species differs from other terrestrial species in both cranial and cervical features,” the paleontologists said.

“It has some automorphisms of the nasal process, maxillary neurovascular foramen, and cervical neurovertebral column.”

The research team's phylogenetic analysis revealed the following: Richeron Wangi It is a sister species of Yunnanosaurus.

“Richeron Wangi “It has the largest skull among the abundant sauropod members of the Lufeng Formation,” the researchers said.

“Therefore, a reconsideration of phylogenetic analyzes using individual specimens of ascertainable ontogenetic stages as operational taxonomic units is undertaken to obtain generally better resolution.”

“Our study provides new insights to previous authors who addressed the anatomy of Lufeng species and represents a first step toward a reassessment of this famous dinosaur fauna.”

“Furthermore, Gondwanan early sauropod paleontological diversity appears to have decreased slightly across the Triassic-Jurassic boundary.”

“We therefore hypothesize that a non-sauropod genus of sauropods survived and rapidly radiated from Laurasia, particularly China.”

“Furthermore, the reconstruction of the ancestral region of Lufeng sauropods is temporally ambiguous.”

“However, the consequences of multiple rounds of dispersal and exchange may explain the continued diversification advantage of non-sauropods in the Lufeng Formation.”

“The limited paleobiogeographic information available from Richeron Wangi “This provides evidence that at least sauropods, or an early sauropod lineage closely related to sauropods, were present in southwestern China during the Early Jurassic.”

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Q. Chan others. 2024. The largest sauropod skull excavated from the Lufeng Formation of the Lower Jurassic period in China. Peer J 12: e18629;doi: 10.7717/peerj.18629

Source: www.sci.news

Argentina Unearths New Species of Sauropod Dinosaur

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Paleontologists in Argentina have discovered fossil fragments of a new genus and species of Lebatisaurus, a sauropod dinosaur that walked the earth more than 90 million years ago.

Artist's impression Sidersaura Marae. Image credit: Gabriel Díaz Yanten.

The newly discovered dinosaur lived in what is now Argentina during the Cenomanian period of the late Cretaceous period, 96 to 93 million years ago.

with scientific name Sidersaura Maraethe ancient beast had a body length of 20 meters, an estimated mass of 15 tons, and a very long tail.

The animal belongs to Rebatisauridaea large family of sauropod dinosaurs known from fragmentary fossil remains in South America, Africa, North America, Europe, and Asia.

These dinosaurs are distinguished from other sauropods by their unique teeth. Some species had tooth batteries similar to hadrosaurid and ceratopsian dinosaurs.

“Rebachisaurs were extremely important dinosaurs in the Cretaceous ecosystem, and disappeared due to an extinction event that occurred in the middle of this period. was held 90 million years ago.'' Dr. Lucas Nicolas Lersopaleontologists and colleagues from Azara Foundation Maimonides University and CONICET.

“Sidersaura Marae is one of the last rebatisaurids, but it also belongs to an evolutionary ancient lineage. ”

“This suggests that these were the largest of their group, given that some of the earliest rebachisaurs survived to the end of their lifespans, and can reach nearly 20 meters in length. It shows that.”

Sidersaura Marae fossil.Image credit: Lerzo other., doi: 10.1080/08912963.2023.2297914.

Fossilized bones are Sidersaura Marae It was discovered in the rocks of the Finkle Formation in the province of Neuquén, Patagonia, Argentina.

“The remains found include a partially articulated tail with sacral vertebrae, hind leg bones, part of the skull, and a tail vertebrae,” Dr Lerzo said.

“Having several anatomically overlapping specimens allowed us to relate them and better understand the characteristics of this new sauropod dinosaur.”

According to the team, one of the distinguishing features is: Sidersaura Marae The difference from other dinosaurs is the star-shaped shape of the hemal arch (coccyx).

Additionally, its skull is sturdy, unlike other closely related species.

“Another feature of the cranium that distinguishes it from others Sidersaura Marae “What differentiates it from other rebatisaurids is the frontoparietal foramen, which is essentially a hole in the roof of the skull,” the paleontologists said.

“This characteristic brings us closer to the following state. dicraeosaursA family of sauropod dinosaurs known for having spines on their necks and backs. ”

“The presence of early species in the Cenomanian-Turonian period, very close to the group's extinction, suggests that the evolutionary history of rebbatisaurids was more complex than previously thought.” the researchers concluded.

their paper It was published in the magazine historical biology.

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Lucas Nicolas Lerso other. The last oldie: Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Turonian) early basal rebachisaurids (sauropods, Diplodocoidea) of Patagonia, Argentina. historical biology, published online on January 3, 2024. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2023.2297914

Source: www.sci.news