The fossils present in Chile come from a wierd dog-sized dinosaur species that had a novel sharp-tailed weapon, scientists reported Wednesday.
Some dinosaurs had pointed tails that they may use as stab weapons and others had tails with golf equipment. The new species, described in a research in the journal Nature, has one thing by no means seen earlier than on an animal: seven pairs of blades organized laterally like a pointy weapon utilized by historic Aztec warriors, mentioned lead creator Alex Vargas.
It’s a extremely uncommon weapon, mentioned Vargas, a paleontologist on the University of Chile. Prehistoric animal books for youths must be up to date to place this bizarre tail in there. … Sounds loopy.
The plant-eating creature had a mix of traits from totally different species that originally despatched paleontologists down the incorrect path. The rear finish, together with its tail weapon, appeared much like a Stegosaurus, the researchers subsequently named it stegouros elengassen.
Illustration supplied by Luis Perez Lopez through Associated Press
After Vargas and his crew examined the cranium items and carried out 5 totally different DNA analyzes, they concluded that it was solely remotely associated to the Stegosaurus.
Instead, it was a uncommon member of the southern hemisphere of the chariot ankylosaurus dinosaur household. (Although the title Stegosaurus has caught and may very well be simply confused with the extra well-known Stegosaurus.)
Vargas referred to as it the misplaced household department of the ankylosaurus.
The fossil is round 72 to 75 million years outdated and seems to be an grownup based mostly on the fusion of the bones, Vargas mentioned. He was discovered along with his entrance finish flat on his abdomen and the rear finish tilted to a decrease degree, virtually as if caught in quicksand, Vargas mentioned.
Illustration supplied by Mauricio Alvarez through Associated Press
From hen’s muzzle to tail tip, the stegouros stretched about six toes (two meters) however solely ascended to the thighs of people, Vargas mentioned.
The tail was seemingly meant to defend in opposition to giant predators, which have been additionally seemingly deactivated by protruding armor-like bones that made the stegouros fluffy, Vargas mentioned.
Not solely is it a extremely bizarre tail, however it comes from the far south of Chile, an space that has by no means produced some of these animals earlier than, mentioned Kristi Curry Rogers, a biologist at Macalester College, who didn’t a part of the research.
Only scratched the floor in relation to a complete understanding of dinosaur range, Rogers mentioned. Stegourus reminds us that if we glance in the fitting locations on the proper time, there’s a lot extra to find.
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