Researchers have uncovered a new species of dinosaur in Zimbabwe's Lake Kariba region. The fossil, named Musankwa sanyatiensis, is the fourth dinosaur species to be discovered in the country.
The study, published in Acta Palaeontologica, was conducted by an international team of scientists from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe, and Stony Brook University in New York. Professor Paul Barrett from the Natural History Museum in London led the research.
Musankwa sanyatiensis is particularly significant as it is the first dinosaur to be named from the Mid-Zambezi Basin in over 50 years. The fossil remains, consisting of a single hind leg, date back to the late Triassic period around 210 million years ago.
"Despite the limited fossil material, these bones possess unique features that distinguish them from those of other dinosaurs living at the same time," said Dr. Kimberley "Kimi" Chapelle, an assistant professor at Stony Brook University.
Evolutionary analysis reveals that Musankwa sanyatiensis was a member of the Sauropodomorpha, a group of long-necked, plant-eating dinosaurs. Weighing around 390kg, it was one of the larger dinosaurs of its era.
Africa has a rich history of dinosaur discoveries, but the continent's fossil record remains underrepresented globally. "The main reason for the under-representation of African dinosaur fossils is 'undersampling'," said Professor Barrett. "There have been fewer people looking for and unearthing dinosaurs in comparison with other regions of the world."
However, the fossils found in Africa, including some of the oldest known dinosaurs, are "historically and scientifically significant." The researchers believe that as more fossil sites are explored in Zimbabwe, further significant finds could shed light on the early evolution of dinosaurs and the ecosystems they inhabited.
"This new dinosaur species also highlights the untapped potential of the region for further palaeontological discoveries," said Dr. Chapelle.
