Quck answer
A rare fossil find in Egypt provides new insights into the migration of dinosaurs across Africa. The fossils, believed to be from the Late Cretaceous period, include multiple species of dinosaur, as well as crocodile and turtle remains. The discovery suggests that dinosaurs were able to cross large bodies of water, such as the Tethys Sea, to reach new habitats. It also challenges previous beliefs that dinosaur migration was limited by geographical barriers. The fossils have yet to be fully analyzed, but the discovery is already being hailed as a significant contribution to our understanding of dinosaur evolution and migration.
Extinct Animals
A new dinosaur species, Mansourasaurus shahinae, has been discovered in Egypt. While not particularly large, the long-necked herbivore is of significant interest to scientists. Its age and anatomy may help to clarify the question of where the African continent was located on Earth when non-avian dinosaurs became extinct.
Theories of Continental Drift
Alfred Wagner, a meteorologist, put forward the theory of “continental drift” in 1915. His idea was that the continents gradually move across the Earth’s surface over time. This has been confirmed by geologists, who have used plate tectonics to piece together the travel histories of the world’s major landmasses. However, there are still gaps in our knowledge, particularly with regards to Africa. We know that 300 million years ago, the continent was part of the supercontinent Pangea, which began to break apart 100 million years later. But exactly what Africa was doing during the later stages of this process is unclear.
The late Cretaceous Period, which lasted from 145 to 66 million years ago, ended with a mass extinction that wiped out all dinosaurs except birds. While we have discovered many African dinosaur fossils from the early Cretaceous Period, including those of the carnivorous Spinosaurus, late Cretaceous fossils from the continent are extremely rare. This presents a problem for scientists studying continental drift, as fossil evidence is crucial when hypothesizing about the merging or separation of landmasses. Without fossils from this time period, paleontologists could only speculate about whether Africa was still connected to other continents.
The recent discovery of Mansourasaurus shahinae in Egypt has therefore provided a valuable clue. By studying the remains of this dinosaur, scientists may be able to gain a better understanding of the movement of landmasses during the late Cretaceous Period, and the location of the African continent when non-avian dinosaurs died out.
The discovery of Mansourasaurus, a long-necked dinosaur or sauropod, in Egypt’s Dakhla Oasis is significant because it was found in late Cretaceous rock. Mansourasaurus belonged to the titanosaur group and was around 33 feet long and weighed 5.5 tons. Its skin had bony knobs embedded, but it was not as large as some of its cousins. Comparing the bones of Mansourasaurus with those of other contemporary titanosaurs from South America and Eurasia showed that it had a closer resemblance to the Eurasian titanosaurs. This finding indicates that there was some geographical connection between Africa and Eurasia during the latest Cretaceous period. While scientists need more fossils to confirm this hypothesis, the discovery of Mansourasaurus is a significant breakthrough.
FAQ
1. What is the significance of the rare Egyptian fossil find?
The rare Egyptian fossil find is significant because it holds clues about the migration of dinosaurs from Africa. The fossils include the remains of at least four different types of dinosaurs, including a long-necked herbivore called Mansourasaurus shahinae. This dinosaur is particularly important because it helps fill a gap in our understanding of dinosaur evolution and migration. Prior to this discovery, there were few fossil records of dinosaurs from Africa during this time period.
2. When and where were the fossils discovered?
The fossils were discovered in the Dakhla Oasis in the Western Desert of Egypt. The excavation took place in 2013 and 2014, and the findings were published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution in January 2018.
3. How old are the fossils?
The fossils are estimated to be about 80 million years old, which is during the Late Cretaceous period. This is a time when dinosaurs were diversifying and spreading across the globe.
4. What can the fossils tell us about dinosaur migration?
The fossils can tell us about dinosaur migration because they provide evidence that these animals were able to move across large distances, even across bodies of water. The Mansourasaurus shahinae, for example, is closely related to dinosaurs found in Europe and Asia, suggesting that there was a land bridge connecting Africa to these other continents at the time. The fossils also indicate that dinosaurs were able to adapt to changing environmental conditions, which may have helped them survive and thrive in different parts of the world.
5. Who discovered the fossils?
The fossils were discovered by an international team of scientists led by Dr. Hesham Sallam of Mansoura University in Egypt. The team included researchers from the United States, Spain, and Australia.
6. What is the significance of the name Mansourasaurus shahinae?
The name Mansourasaurus shahinae is significant because it honors the Mansoura University team that discovered the fossils, as well as a prominent Egyptian paleontologist named Mona Shahin. The name also reflects the dinosaur’s place of discovery, Mansoura, and its species name, shahinae, is a tribute to Shahin’s contributions to the field of paleontology in Egypt.
7. How do these findings contribute to our understanding of dinosaur evolution?
These findings contribute to our understanding of dinosaur evolution by filling in a gap in our knowledge of their migration patterns. Prior to this discovery, there were few fossil records of dinosaurs from Africa during this time period. The discovery of Mansourasaurus shahinae and other fossils in the Dakhla Oasis provides evidence that dinosaurs were able to move across large distances and adapt to changing environmental conditions. This helps us better understand how these animals evolved and spread across the globe.
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