Nigersaurus is a 30-foot-long plant-eating dinosaur that lived 110 million years ago in what is now Niger’s Sahara Desert. Nigersaurus lived in a lush environment alongside the predatory dinosaur Suchomimus, the plant eaters ouranosaurus and lurdusaurus, and supercroc. Nigersaurus had a delicate skull and an extremely wide mouth lined with teeth especially adapted for browsing plants close to the ground. This bizarre, long-necked dinosaur is characterized by its unusually broad, straight-edged muzzle tipped with more than 500 replaceable teeth. The original fossil skull of Nigersaurus is one of the first dinosaur skulls to be digitally reconstructed from CT scans.
Journal Entry: Sept 9, 2000
Update on Dinosaur Discoveries from Paul Sereno Camp 1 Gadoufaoua 11:30 pm
Our first week in the field has been spectacular! Remarkable discoveries seem to be waiting for us around every dune. On our first day, we found bones of the long-necked dinosaur Nigersaurus. Nigersaurus, you might remember, we named for bones collected on the last expedition here three years ago. This sauropod (long-necked dinosaur) has an unusual skull containing as many as 500 slender teeth. A major goal of this expedition is to find the rest of this unusual dinosaur so we can describe it and reconstruct it for everyone to see.
We are closing in on that goal fast because we came upon a skeleton a few days later! This skeleton is lying on its side with the tail curved upward. The curve of the backbone measures about 15 feet. We carefully brushed the sand off the 110 million-year-old bones and dug channels between the major areas of the skeleton. Soon we will cover each area in plaster so that the skeleton can be transported out of the field and back to the laboratory.
But that’s not all for Nigersaurus. Chris took us all to a flat area of purple-colored sandstone where he had located the upper jaw of a baby Nigersaurus—one that would fit on top of a silver dollar! This Nigersaurus was a hatchling, probably less than one year from hatching when it died and was fossilized.
While walking across a very flat area, Gabe made a remarkable find—the bones of a new meat-eating dinosaur lay partially exposed at her feet. She brushed away the sand from the upper jaw. Nearby lay part of the backbone and the hip bones. This was a mean customer—the bones are from a skeleton that would measure about 30 feet long! We hope to find more evidence of this sharp-toothed creature as the field season goes on.
A huge crocodile
We are interested in finding more than just dinosaurs. We want to find all animals and plants that once lived along the ancient streams and forests 110 million years ago. One of the most common fossils we encountered in the first week of work belonged to an enormous crocodile called Sarcosuchus.
This reptile was far larger than any living crocodile. Judging from the 6-foot skull we found in the first week, we suspect it may have measured over 40 feet long! The armor plates on its back measured a foot across. We even laid out the team to get a sense of just how big this animal was.
Hans has been working with a crew of Allison and Dave to excavate a new site. As we dug around the skull, we uncovered another juvenile skull of the same species lying right next to the big one. They carved a block of rock that included both skulls, knowing full well that it would weigh around 600 pounds when encased in plaster.
So I think you might agree that the first week here has been a thriller.
In 1989 he announced that he and his team had found the first well-preserved skull and complete skeleton of one of the oldest known dinosaurs, Herrerasaurus ischigualastensis, in the Ischigualasto Formation near the foothills of the Andes near San Juan, Argentina.
Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, a new fossil discovery reveals, had a paddle-shaped tail that may have helped the predator slice through the water with the grace of a crocodile.
Answer and Explanation: Dr. Paul Sereno needed the help of the Taureg tribe in finding dinosaur bones on several expeditions to Niger, in northern Africa.
Paleontological research includes working out the relationships between extinct animals and plants and their living relatives. We reconstruct early communities and their environments and try to understand the changes that have led to those of the present day.
It was discovered by American marine archaeologist and paleontologist Susan Hendrickson, the scientist for whom the specimen is named, as she searched the property with American paleontologist Peter Larson. For the next 10 years the specimen was the subject of an intense custody battle.
Dinosaur head found in U.K., and experts say it's one of the most complete pliosaur skulls ever unearthed. London — The skull of an enormous ancient sea monster called a pliosaur has been pulled from cliffs on the U.K.'s southern Jurassic Coast.
If a Spinosaurus and a Tyrannosaurus Rex were to go head-to-head under the same circ*mstances shown in Jurassic Park 3, it's certain that the iconic T-rex would come out on top. Its slight disadvantage of size would easily be made up for by its strength and lethal bite power.
Spinosaurus first came to light more than 100 years ago when German paleontologist Ernst Stromer discovered a partial skeleton in Egypt. These Spinosaurus fossils were displayed in a museum in Munich, but Stromer lived in a dangerous time and was an outspoken critic of Hitler's regime.
Spinosaurus was a large meat-eating dinosaur from Africa. Scientists think it may have lived a semi-aquatic lifestyle. Our understanding of Spinosaurus has changed in recent years. For over 100 years we only had very incomplete remains of this dinosaur.
From 1991 to 1997 different Tuareg groups were active in an armed struggle against the Government of Niger, demanding greater political autonomy and development funds for Niger's north western regions, inhabited by Tuaregs.
Fossil replicas are made using a mold and cast method, where the original fossil is used to create a detailed mold, which is then filled with resin or plastic to form a cast.
Covering a fossil with newspapers, the team creates the first layer of a "jacket" that will protect the specimen during shipping. A protective jacket's thick second layer is made of plaster-soaked burlap and cheesecloth.
Around the world, many are still digging away. Each is hoping to learn more about the history of life on Earth. Many paleontologists are also evolutionary biologists. Evolutionary biology is the study of the origin, development, and changes (evolution) in species over time.
Paleontology is the study of ancient life, from dinosaurs to prehistoric plants, mammals, fish, insects, fungi, and even microbes. Fossil evidence reveals how organisms changed over time and what our planet was like long ago.
Paleontologist Walter Stein found Big John in South Dakota. “When I first saw it, the horn was absolutely massive. You could tell that Big John was big. This was an alpha big puppy.
"This new species, Chakisaurus nekul, was a bipedal herbivore that had, among its most important features, a tail that, unlike other dinosaurs that had a horizontal tail, had a downward curvature, which is something very new for these animals.
The first known fossil remains of Deinocheirus were discovered by Polish palaeontologist Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska on July 9, 1965, at the Altan Ula III site (coordinates: 43°33.987′N 100°28.959′E) in the Nemegt Basin of the Gobi Desert.
Hobby: Flower arranging, Yo-yoing, Tai chi, Rowing, Macrame, Urban exploration, Knife making
Introduction: My name is Madonna Wisozk, I am a attractive, healthy, thoughtful, faithful, open, vivacious, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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