That broad muzzle with its Nigersaurus teeth was great for scooping up ferns, horsetails as well as other lower-lying crops. And Along with the bountiful teeth, the dinosaur would've experienced no difficulties shearing via this vegetation.
Nigersaurus (/niːˈʒɛərsɔːrəs, ˈnaɪdʒərsɔːrəs/) is actually a genus of rebbachisaurid sauropod dinosaur that lived for the duration of the middle Cretaceous period of time, about one hundred fifteen to a hundred and five million a long time back. It had been identified within the Elrhaz Development in a location called Gadoufaoua, in Niger.
Named following the place of Niger, wherever its fossils were 1st located. The identify was selected to replicate its origins, nonetheless, the similarity in pronunciation to a racial slur has raised concerns about cultural sensitivity and proper terminology.
Nigersaurus is an important discovery for paleontologists because it helps to shed mild on the evolution and diversity of sauropods over the mid-Cretaceous period of time.
We've been closing in on that aim quick due to the fact we came on a skeleton a couple of days later! This skeleton is lying on its facet Along with the tail curved upward. The curve in the backbone steps about 15 toes.
Immediately after conducting a biomechanical Investigation, one group of researchers concluded that The top and muzzle ended up habitually oriented sixty seven° downwards and shut to the bottom due to adaptation Nigersaurus for ground-level browsing.
As we’ve witnessed, Nigersaurus had a wide muzzle and numerous teeth beautifully fitted to consuming very low-lying crops. This food plan and Way of living would have expected the creature to possess a steady supply of replacement teeth, as it might have worn out its tooth crowns swiftly. A analyze posted from the journal PLOS A person
This fast tooth replacement, with new teeth growing each 14 times, ensured it taken care of sharp edges for grazing on tender vegetation. The exceptional dental arrangement made it hugely effective at processing low-lying vegetation, contributing to its status for a specialised herbivore.
The reconstructed skeleton of a very Strange dinosaur, the plant-ingesting Nigersaurus. This is the sculptural rendition of what the scientists count on the dinosaur's unique head could possibly have appeared like.
Nigersaurus is ideal recognized for its distinctive skull and jaw, which contained roughly five hundred slender teeth arranged in tightly packed rows. These teeth were being specialized for grazing on small-lying vegetation, producing Nigersaurus a hugely efficient herbivore.
This strange, extended-necked dinosaur is characterised by its unusually broad, straight-edged muzzle tipped with in excess of 500 replaceable teeth. The initial fossil cranium of Nigersaurus is one of the 1st dinosaur skulls to be digitally reconstructed from CT scans.
This Nigersaurus was a hatchling, possibly under 1 year from hatching when it died and was fossilized.
Fossils of this dinosaur have been initial explained in 1976, but it was only named Nigersaurus taqueti in 1999, immediately after more and more finish remains were being found and described. The genus title means "Niger reptile", and the particular name honours the palaeontologist Philippe Taquet, who uncovered the very first stays.
Nigersaurus was possibly a browser, and fed with its head close to the bottom. The area of its Mind that detected scent was small, Despite the fact that its Mind dimensions was akin to that of other dinosaurs. There have been debate on whether or not its head was habitually held downwards, or horizontally like other sauropods.