This is an illustration depicting Mnyamawamtuka in its environmental setting. Credit: Mark Witton (2018)
Posted on 02/16/2019 4:29:20 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Titanosaurs were the most speciose and widespread group of sauropod dinosaurs, the largest terrestrial animals in Earth history. They reached their peak diversity in the Late Cretaceous after all other sauropod groups vanished, but their early evolution is poorly understood due to a scarcity of well-preserved titanosaur fossils from before the Late Cretaceous, especially outside of South America. In this study, the authors describe a newly-discovered middle Cretaceous titanosaur from southern Africa.
The researchers named the new dinosaur Mnyamawamtuka moyowamkia. It is known from a single specimen excavated from a quarry along the Mtuka River in southwest Tanzania. It is one of the more complete titanosaur specimens known especially from Africa, preserving partial remains of every major body region, including numerous vertebrae, ribs, limb bones, and teeth. Its scientific name derives from Kishwahili (Swahili) words meaning "beast of the Mtuka" and "heart of the tail," referring respectively to the location it was found and to the uniquely heart-shaped centrum of its tail vertebrae.
Comparing Mnyamawamtuka to the known family tree of titanosaurs, the researchers conclude that this new species fits near the origin of a clade called Lithostrotia, which ultimately includes most Late Cretaceous titanosaur species. Mnyamawamtuka thus represents an early stage in the evolution of the greatest diversification of titanosaurs. This discovery also adds to evidence of a close relationship between the titanosaurs of southern Africa and South America, a link that was likely important in the evolution of Cretaceous ecosystems across southern continents.
(Excerpt) Read more at eurekalert.org ...
This is an illustration depicting Mnyamawamtuka in its environmental setting. Credit: Mark Witton (2018)
With a name like that, you figure its parents had no expectation that this dinosaur would ever actually apply for a job.
I always love how with just the odd bit of bone we get these wonderful renderings of a complete Thunderlizard.
…. and these critters were walking around the dirt roads left by WHO????
“With a name like that, you figure its parents had no expectation that this dinosaur would ever actually apply for a job. “
Nickname is Yo Mama
Yeah, there’s tire tracks on that road...
…. and these critters were walking around the dirt roads left by WHO????
Them - they pack together in herds and scuff their feet as they walk creating “roads”. Haven’t you ever seen a well worn game trail in semiarid conditions? These critters are huge and weigh a lot so they make more disturbances on the ground.
Tire tracks.
I’d like to buy a vowel..
He'd still have an edge for housepainting, Wichita lineman...
Dang it. And I only just learned to properly pronounce Oumouamoua!
Probably translate as "long-necked thing".
You'd think some people had never herd of dinosaur tracks...
Remember, the I is long, the I is long . . .
What on Earth !
The neck is pretty long, too.
Not only that, but grasses hadn’t evolved yet, so there wasn’t much sod.
Not only that, but grasses hadn’t evolved yet, so there wasn’t much sod.
—
or so the theory goes ...
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