Following the iguanodontian Lurdusaurus, Nigersaurus was the most several megaherbivore. Other herbivores with the similar development involve Ouranosaurus, Elrhazosaurus, and an unnamed titanosaur. Together, these compose one of many handful of associations of megaherbivores using a stability of sauropods and huge ornithopods.
Nigersaurus (/niːˈʒɛərsɔːrəs, ˈnaɪdʒərsɔːrəs/) is a genus of rebbachisaurid sauropod dinosaur that lived all through the center Cretaceous time period, about a hundred and fifteen to a hundred and five million a long time ago. It absolutely was identified within the Elrhaz Development in a place identified as Gadoufaoua, in Niger.
Only by bringing jointly vegetation from around the globe and a variety of fashionable environments can a dinosaur-age scene be recreated. A lot of the vegetation, like ginkgos, search practically the same as their extinct ancestors; some, such as conifer Araucaria, had been the dominant trees with the forests one hundred ten million yrs back.
While Taquet at first explained the dinosaur’s stays while in the seventies, the official classification and naming had been done a long time afterwards by Sereno, emphasizing the collaborative character of its research and discovery.
The genus Nigersaurus was formally named in 1999 by American paleontologist Paul Sereno and his crew, subsequent the discovery of extra finish continues to be that allowed for an in depth description with the species.
Our 1st week in the sector is breathtaking! Exceptional discoveries seem to be awaiting us about each and every dune. On our very first day, we discovered bones of your lengthy-necked dinosaur Nigersaurus. Nigersaurus, you would possibly don't forget, we named for bones collected on the last expedition listed here 3 several years ago.
Nigersaurus was named following the West African state the place its fossils were uncovered: the Republic of Niger. All through this creature’s time, the landscape (now Section of the Sahara Desert) is believed to are already covered with forests and braided rivers.
Relatives legislation is usually a crucial lawful follow that is significant in supporting folks Nigersaurus and families through a few of lifetime’s most difficult milestones.
The teeth’s special condition and arrangement had been completely suited for its feeding patterns. The slender, chisel-like teeth could competently snip off tender vegetation, as well as their swift alternative ensured that the dinosaur could constantly feed with out awaiting new teeth to grow.
It had close to five hundred slim teeth in its jaw that were replaced with new teeth in two weeks. Its upper jaw teeth were being bigger than its reduced jaw teeth. What's more, Its jaw was Significantly broader compared to cranium.
But that’s not all for Nigersaurus. Chris took us all to a flat location of purple-colored sandstone wherever he had Positioned the upper jaw of the infant Nigersaurus—1 that would in good shape along with a silver dollar!
The snout was also proportionately shorter, along with the tooth row was by no means prognathous, the snout suggestion not protruding relative to the rest from the tooth sequence.[one] Nigersaurus was unique in that its frontal bone (which fashioned A lot on the cranium-roof) was elongate (Considerably narrower than extensive), and had a marked cerebral fossa (a depression within the surface area of this bone inside the head).[4] The maxillary tooth row was in its entirety transversely rotated, its regular rear ninety° everted in the direction of the front. This was matched by The same rotation from the dentary in the lessen jaw. This transverse orientation of your higher and lessen tooth rows was exceptional to your dinosaur. Due to this configuration, no other tetrapod experienced all of its teeth located as much to your entrance as Nigersaurus.[three][4]
The journey to uncover the insider secrets of your Nigersaurus commenced with the initial fossil fragments found in the nineteen seventies inside the Elrhaz Development of Niger, nevertheless it wasn’t till 1999 that more complete stays brought this fascinating dinosaur into your Highlight. These discoveries introduced paleontologists with equally issues and possibilities.
Skeletal diagram of Nigersaurus taqueti, illustrating identified fossil components and size comparison which has a human, depicting this Cretaceous sauropod's exceptional Bodily construction