William Atkins
Thursday, 12 November 2009 20:59
Science -
Biology
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A new species of dinosaur that is similar to the gigantic sauropods has been discovered in a game reserve in central South Africa. The discovery by the team, led by a U.S. paleobiologist from Western Illinois University, helps to better define the period before the beginning of the sauropod.
The recently discovered dinosaur species is scientifically classified as
Aardonyx celestae.
It is believed by scientists to have roamed South Africa about 195 million years ago (the Jurassic period)—reaching a body length of seven meters (twenty feet).
Aardonyx celesta is defined from the Latin language as "Earth Claw.”
The November 11, 2009 National Geographic article “
New Dinosaur Found; Shows How Giants Got That Way,” quotes the co-author of the research team that discovered this exciting new dino species.
The co-author of the study, U.S. vertebrate paleobiologist
Matthew F. Bonnan (from Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois), stated,
"What's exciting about Aardonyx is it's showing us that transition period … it's the closest thing just before becoming the classic sauropod,"
The new species has a long neck, a large stomach for eating a lot of plants, and walked on two legs (but when standing would descend down to four legs). It also had many features like its cousin, the sauropod, such as a strong skeleton for supporting it large frame.
During the Jurassic period, from which the new
A. celestae species roamed, the area consisted of a dry floodplain with isolated spots of water.
A YouTube video highlighting the discovery by the Bonnan team is found at
Aardonyx "Earth Claw" Dinosaur Discovery.
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