The identify "Nigersaurus" has began controversy and dialogue inside the scientific Group and over and above due to its likely for misinterpretation and unintended connotations.
Nigersaurus (/niːˈʒɛərsɔːrəs, ˈnaɪdʒərsɔːrəs/) is often a genus of rebbachisaurid sauropod dinosaur that lived for the duration of the middle Cretaceous period, about one hundred fifteen to one zero five million a long time ago. It absolutely was learned while in the Elrhaz Formation in a region named Gadoufaoua, in Niger.
Nigersaurus was named and explained in more detail by Sereno and colleagues only in 1999, according to continues to be of recently found persons. Precisely the same posting also named Jobaria, One more sauropod from Niger. The genus identify Nigersaurus ("Niger reptile") is usually a reference to the state wherever it had been found out, and the precise name taqueti honours Taquet, who was the first to organise significant-scale palaeontological expeditions to Niger.
Nigersaurus lived one hundred ten million a long time ago in what has become Niger, West Africa. Although the fossils had been found in the Sahara Desert, when Nigersaurus lived the world was a floodplain with vast rivers, conifer forests and lush vegetation.
In Nigersaurus' situation, the upper jaws contained sixty columns of tiny, needle-shaped upper teeth. And no less than 68 quite sharp teeth were being current within the lower jaws. Tallied collectively, higher jaw and reduce jaw, the beast experienced much more than 500 unique teeth.
Its unique dental composition implies that it can have experienced a special feeding approach when compared with other sauropods, and its presence in Africa suggests that these sorts of dinosaurs had been more popular than previously thought.
As we proceed to study this interesting creature, we're reminded of the intricate and numerous paths that evolution can take.
Nigersaurus experienced a jaw construction as opposed to every other dinosaur. Its wide, squared-off muzzle housed about 500 slender, pencil-like teeth. These what dinosaur has 500 teeth teeth were not evenly dispersed but ended up organized in columns and rows, with as many as 9 substitute teeth behind Just about every Energetic tooth.
Nigersaurus is Probably the most archaeologically essential dinosaurs as it is helping scientists to better recognize the anatomy and physiology of other sauropods. It is usually The most absolutely recognized rebbachisaurids, with about two hundred bones of at least 17 different dinosaurs learned.
It experienced all-around 500 thin teeth in its jaw that were replaced with new teeth in two weeks. Its higher jaw teeth had been larger than its reduced jaw teeth. What's more, Its jaw was Significantly broader compared to the cranium.
This permitted the dinosaur to possess a constant provide of refreshing teeth, permitting it to continue to properly system plant product at the same time as its teeth wear down.
Feeding on like which might be tough on your own dental overall health Except if you do have a syteady provide of replacement teeth. Nigersaurus need to have worn out its tooth crowns in a quick-hearth rate.
Nigersaurus didn't show the exact same modifications witnessed in the jaws of other dinosaurs with dental batteries, or mammals with elaborate chewing capabilities. The decreased jaw was L-formed and divided in the subcylindrical transverse ramus, which contained the teeth, along with the back again ramus, which was extra light-weight and was The situation for the vast majority of muscle mass attachments. It absolutely was unique in that the tooth row expanded to the edges in the plane of the leading ramus in the lower jaw.
This reptile was much greater than any living crocodile. Judging in the six-foot skull we found in the primary week, we suspect it could possibly have measured in excess of 40 toes prolonged! The armor plates on its back calculated a foot throughout. We even laid out the staff to get a perception of just how huge this animal was.