New Dinosaur Species Discovered in Zimbabwe: A Major Paleontological Breakthrough
In a groundbreaking find, a new dinosaur species has been discovered in Zimbabwe.
The newly identified dinosaur species, which has been named Musankwa sanyatiensis was discovered in the fossilized rocks along the shoreline of Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe.
Unearthing Musankwa Sanyatiensis
The fossilized remains of Musankwa sanyatiensis, including a single hind leg with thigh, shin, and ankle bones, were discovered embedded in rock.
This significant discovery was made by an international team of researchers from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe, and Stony Brook University in New York. The team was led by Professor Paul Barrett from the Natural History Museum in London.
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Insights into the Discovery of Musankwa sanyatiensis
Speaking on the discovery of Musankwa sanyatiensis, Professor Paul Barrett revealed that they were just walking along Lake Kariba shoreline when they noticed the dinosaur legs.
“We were walking along the shoreline when I noticed these leg bones eroding out of the ground,” said Professor Paul Barrett, describing the moment of discovery.
He explained that after they excavated the fossils they found out the remains were quite different from other dinosaur species
“After we excavated the fossils, we realized it was quite different from the dinosaurs you might expect to find in the area.”
He revealed that Musankwa sanyatiensis, a member of the Sauropodomorpha group, roamed the Earth during the Late Triassic period, approximately 210 million years ago.
These bipedal, long-necked dinosaurs were among the larger plant-eating species of their time, with Musankwa sanyatiensis estimated to weigh around 390 kg.
Adding to Zimbabwe’s Dinosaur Heritage
The discovery of Musankwa sanyatiensis marks the fourth dinosaur species to be named in Zimbabwe. Previous notable finds include Syntarsus rhodesiensis in 1969, Vulcanodon karibaensis in 1972, and Mbiresaurus raathi in 2022.
Future Research and Publication
The research detailing the discovery of Musankwa sanyatiensis is set to be published in the prestigious journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. This publication will provide a comprehensive overview of the findings and their implications for our understanding of dinosaur evolution during the Late Triassic period.
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