Although hundreds of millions of years have passed since the appearance of the first dinosaurs and those that were there before, we continue to find traces that allow us to draw incredible ecosystems and imagine what the past was like.
Indeed, during the first half of the year, South American paleontologists uncovered Koleken inakayalia cousin of T. rex with ridiculously small arms compared to his size. A new anomaly among dinosaurs.
Nothosaurus, a sea monster that lived 246 million years ago – June 2024
This is not a new species since the researchers who were able to estimate the age of this sea monster did so on a fossil that had been discovered in 1978. Thanks to the analysis of a simple vertebra, paleontologists were therefore able to estimate that Nothosaurus had lived at the dawn of the advent of the dinosaurs, 246 million years ago.
The dinosaur named after the Norse god of mischief – June 2024
Exhibited at the Maribo Museum in Denmark, it is known under the name Frederik, but in reality, it belongs to a particular and recently discovered species: Lokiceratops. Coming from the large family of Triceratopsthe dinosaur was named after Loki, the Norse god of mischief.
Indeed, this dinosaur, which lived 78 million years ago, had a collar and two large horns at eye level, a bit like the helmet of the antagonist from the first film. Avengers.
“The King of Asia”, the tyrannosaurus of China – July 2024
Identified seven years after being discovered Asiatyrannus xui was a dinosaur cousin of the terrible Tyrannosaurus Rex. Although they roamed the Earth almost at the same time, in the Late Cretaceous the two did not live in the same place at all. Indeed, most T.rexes lived in what is now the United States, when “The King of Asia” was found by chance during a construction site in China.
However, although its name suggests a certain size, it “only” measured 4 meters in length maximum, it was a reduced model of the T.rex which could reach 13 meters in length.
Comptonatus chasei a dinosaur as big as a bison – July 2024
Direction England and the Isle of Wight more precisely. This true land of dinosaurs welcomed, nearly 125 million years ago, Comptonatus chasei a “Cretaceous cow”. Named in homage to fossil hunter Nick Chase, who died in 2019, the dinosaur must have weighed at least 1 ton, or as much “than a male bison” according to the researcher responsible for its identification.
The prehistoric animal certainly lived in hordes of several hundred members. It is said that the earth shook when these dinosaurs ran to escape a predator.
The salamander that terrorized Namibia long before the dinosaurs – July 2024
We agree that the Triassic began almost 250 million years ago, giving birth to the first dinosaurs and therefore marking the beginning of their reign. But before their advent, the Earth was not empty and was dominated by other species. As Gaiasia jennyaea 2.5 meter giant salamander that lived in the swamps of what is now Namibia.
His terrifying hunting technique, however, does not take away from his special appearance. Indeed, its skull, at least 60 centimeters long, had a shape that we know well today, that of a toilet seat.
The funny study that showed how dinosaurs became masters of the Earth – November 2024
To understand how dinosaurs came to dominate the Earth for more than 170 million years, Swedish researchers decided to take a new, specific approach: studying the fecal matter and gastric waste of Triassic species.
More than 100 kilograms of droppings were studied by the researchers. For what ? To get a clear idea of the food chain in place when the first dinosaurs appeared in the Triassic.
Honorable Mention at Apex – July 2024
Until 2024, the throne of the most expensive dinosaur in history was held by Stan, a skeleton of Tyrannosaurus Rex which sold for $31.8 million in 2020. But, the T. rex, if it remains the king of dinosaurs, is no longer the species which gave rise to the most expensive skeleton in history .
Indeed, on July 17, 2024, Apex, a 150 million year old Stegosaurus, took over the number 1 spot by being sold at auction for the modest sum of $44.6 million.
With an unwavering passion for local news, Christopher leads our editorial team with integrity and dedication. With over 20 years’ experience, he is the backbone of Wouldsayso, ensuring that we stay true to our mission to inform.
