Paleontologists have made an exciting discovery in northwestern Argentina. They found a rich collection of Triassic fossils at the Quebrada Santo Domingo site. Among these finds is a nearly complete skeleton of a new sauropodomorph dinosaur species, Huayracursor jaguensis. This site also yielded various ancient creatures, including cynodonts, rhynchosaurs, and aetosaurs.
Huayracursor jaguensis roamed the earth about 230 million years ago during the Late Triassic period. It was an early member of the sauropodomorph group and notably had a longer neck and larger size compared to many of its peers.
Dr. Martin Hechenleitner, a paleontologist involved in the study, emphasized the importance of the Carnian age. This era, around 237 to 227 million years ago, was crucial in the evolution of reptiles. According to Dr. Hechenleitner, “The Carnian marks the early stages of various significant animal groups, including dinosaurs.” After this period, dinosaurs began their rapid rise to dominance throughout the Mesozoic Era.
Most early dinosaur fossils have been found in specific areas, mainly the Ischigualasto-Villa Unión Basin in Argentina and the Paraná Basin in Brazil. Despite our growing knowledge of these ancient animals, new dinosaur collections outside of traditional sites have been rare.
In this fresh discovery, the paleontologists highlighted the diversity of fossils, uncovering rhynchosaurs and cynodonts, along with at least two types of sauropodomorphs, all indicating a Carnian age. Notably, Huayracursor jaguensis marks an early instance of both increased body size and neck elongation in sauropodomorphs, revealing key traits that date back to the early days of dinosaurs.
This find broadens the understanding of early dinosaur diversity and their evolution during the Carnian age. It shows that diverse ecosystems existed, supporting various species well before dinosaurs took over.
For more details, check out the study published in Nature.
In summary, discoveries like this one in Argentina not only enrich our knowledge of prehistoric life but also highlight how paleontologists continue to uncover the mysteries of our planet’s distant past.
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