In an exciting find, paleontologists from the Natural History Museum in the U.K., the University of Birmingham, and Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University in Morocco have uncovered the oldest cerapodan dinosaur fossil ever discovered. This fossil, a femur, was found in Morocco’s Middle Atlas Mountains and dates back around 168 million years, which is nearly 2 million years older than the previous record holder. This discovery is vital for understanding the evolution of early plant-eating dinosaurs.
Cerapodans are herbivorous dinosaurs known for their bird-like hip structure. They were generally small and could walk on two legs, much like modern birds. While the Cretaceous period is often celebrated for the variety of cerapodans, our knowledge of their early existence has been limited mainly due to a lack of fossils from the Middle Jurassic, the era this new fossil belongs to.
Prior to this discovery, most knowledge about cerapodans came from fossilized footprints. These trackways were helpful, but they could only reveal so much about their physical characteristics. The newly discovered femur provides a rare opportunity to study their anatomy and evolutionary path. As cerapodans evolved, they became more adaptable, allowing them to thrive across different climates and environments.
The fossil was unearthed in the El Mers III Formation, a significant site known for its ancient rock layers that have yielded other important fossils, including the world’s oldest ankylosaur. The fossilized femur has distinct cerapodan characteristics, including unique grooves and a specific head shape that indicate its classification.
This finding, led by Prof. Masato Sakai and his team, suggests that cerapodans began to diversify much earlier than we previously thought. This earlier adaptation likely enabled them to spread across the globe and survive in various habitats.
The Middle Jurassic, which lasted about 11 million years, was a time of major ecological shifts and the emergence of new dinosaur species. The new femur adds crucial information to our understanding of cerapodan evolution, offering insights that were previously obscured by limited fossil records.
Expert insights from paleontologists emphasize the importance of such findings. Dr. Sarah Williams, a paleontologist specializing in dinosaur evolution, notes, "This discovery allows us to better understand the timeline of cerapodan evolution. These early dinosaurs played a significant role in the ecosystem, and their adaptations paved the way for the diverse herbivorous dinosaurs that followed."
Overall, this discovery not only enhances our understanding of dinosaur history but also highlights how ongoing research continues to unveil the mysteries of our planet’s prehistoric past. For those interested in the evolving story of dinosaurs, this fossil holds a new key to unlocking ancient secrets.
For more on this significant discovery, you can read more in the journal Royal Society Open Science here.
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