New 240-million-year-old Tanzanian species may update early dinosaur evolution timeline
Researchers led by the University of Bristol have described a new 240-million-year-old prehistoric animal from Tanzania that could refine the timeline of early dinosaur origins.
Fossil discovery in Tanzania
An international team examined skeletons belonging to herbivorous dicynodonts found during a 1963 British expedition. The fossils were originally housed at the Natural History Museum in London before recent analysis identified them as Dinodontosaurus isiyavamanda. This genus represents a new species dating back to the Triassic period.
Impact on evolutionary history
The study suggests that some early potential dinosaur fossils from the region may be younger than previously believed. Scientists hope this finding will help clarify the age of significant fossil sites in Tanzania. The results are published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
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