Paleontologists in Brazil have uncovered an exciting find: a new species of sauropod dinosaur, named Dasosaurus tocantinensis. This discovery sheds light on ancient migration patterns that connected continents separated by the Atlantic Ocean millions of years ago.
Living around 120 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous, Dasosaurus tocantinensis measured about 66 feet long and belonged to a group called Somphospondyli. This group of dinosaurs thrived from the Late Jurassic to the end of the Cretaceous period.
A partial skeleton was discovered in the Itapecuru Formation in northeastern Brazil. Unique features of Dasosaurus include a distinct set of ridges and grooves on its tail vertebrae and a thigh bone with a pronounced bulge. These characteristics suggest it is not a direct ancestor of the titanosaur lineage, which later dominated the southern continents. Instead, it appears closely related to Garumbatitan morellensis, a sauropod from Spain that lived about 122 million years ago.
This finding highlights that Early Cretaceous South America was not just a secluded land but part of a broader network of land connections that facilitated dinosaur movement across continents. Dr. Max Langer, the lead researcher from the Universidade de São Paulo, noted that this discovery broadens our understanding of dinosaur diversity in South America and strengthens connections to northern Gondwanan regions and Europe.
Research indicates that the lineage containing Dasosaurus likely originated in Europe and spread to South America through northern Africa between 137 and 113 million years ago.
This discovery was published in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology on February 12, 2026.
The evolving landscape of paleontology often surprises scientists. Modern studies suggest that many dinosaur species were more mobile than previously thought, thanks in part to regions that once allowed for easy movement between continents. This interconnectedness might explain the surprising similarities found in dinosaur fossils across continents, adding depth to our understanding of prehistoric life.
For more details, you can read the full study here.
Source link
Brazil,Cretaceous,Dasosaurus,Dasosaurus tocantinensis,Dinosaur,Europe,Fossil,Garumbatitan,Garumbatitan morellensis,Gondwana,Itapecuru Formation,Sauropod,Sauropoda,Somphospondyli,South America,Titanosauriformes
