Zimbabwe's dinosaurs were different from South Africa's: New species offers clues
Africa boasts up to 25% of Earth's animal and plant species. This diversity is driven by varied habitats: harsh deserts, vast grasslands, dense forests, towering mountains, lush coastlines and teeming seas. It is also due to deep evolutionary roots, as many animal and plant groups originated here in the distant past. Paleontologists have been excavating this material for nearly two centuries.
Zimbabwe has its own unique dinosaurs, distinct from those found in South Africa, according to new research. This discovery sheds light on the early stages of dinosaur evolution. The newly identified species, Musango matusadonaensis, is a sauropodomorph dinosaur, which eventually gave rise to the long-necked giants like Diplodocus.
Measuring about 4.5 meters (15 feet) in length and weighing 220 kilograms (485 pounds), this subadult dinosaur was found in the bank of the Nyamasango River near Musango Island. The lack of a preserved skull means its diet remains unknown, but its relatives were likely herbivores. What sets Zimbabwean dinosaurs apart is their uniqueness, with no direct relatives identified in South African sites.
This rarity is attributed to environmental differences, with Zimbabwe's climate being different from South Africa's. Further exploration of Kariba's shoreline, where these fossils were discovered, promises more insights into early dinosaur evolution.
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