" This stems from the misinterpretation of its title, which is derived within the country of Niger, not a derogatory phrase.
Nigersaurus and its closest family are grouped in the subfamily Rebbachisaurinae (previously regarded as grouped while in the eponymous Nigersaurinae) of the family members Rebbachisauridae, which can be Section of the sauropod superfamily Diplodocoidea. Nigersaurus was in all probability a browser, and fed with its head near the ground. The region of its brain that detected scent was underdeveloped, Whilst its Mind dimension was akin to that of other dinosaurs.
Lifestyle restoration Nigersaurus was distinct in that its dorsal (back) vertebrae had paired pneumatic spaces at The bottom with the neural spines (the spines that projected upwards within the vertebrae). The presacral vertebrae (vertebrae before the sacrum) were being heavily pneumatised to The purpose wherever the column consisted of the number of hollow "shells", Just about every divided by a thin septum in the center. It had very little to no cancellous bone, making the centra skinny bone plates filled with air spaces. The vertebral arches were being so greatly pierced by extensions with the exterior air sacs that of their aspect partitions minor remained but two mm (0.
The Nigersaurus roamed the lush landscapes of the middle Cretaceous period of time, in what is now the Sahara Desert of Niger. This area, the moment teeming with life, supplied a wealthy tapestry of soppy, leafy vegetation that was perfect for the Nigersaurus’s specialised diet program.
Skeletal diagram exhibiting recognised things and size comparison Sereno plus the American palaeontologist Jeffrey A. Wilson delivered the very first in-depth description in the cranium and feeding adaptations in 2005.[one] In 2007, a more detailed description in the skeleton was published by Sereno advert colleagues, dependant on a specimen learned ten a long time previously. The fossils, in addition to a reconstructed skeleton mount and also a plastic 500 teeth dinosaur model of The pinnacle and neck, were subsequently presented for the Nationwide Geographic Modern society in Washington.
” Our initial week in the field is impressive! Amazing discoveries appear to be awaiting us close to each dune. On our initially working day, we located bones in the extended-necked dinosaur Nigersaurus. Nigersaurus, you could possibly remember, we named for bones gathered on the final expedition in this article a few decades back.
The enamel around the teeth of Nigersaurus was hugely asymmetrical, 10 times thicker within the outwards facing side than about the inner aspect.
Though residence to other significant herbivorous dinosaurs, it had been also inhabited by theropods (a group of bipedal, three-toed carnivorous dinosaurs that come with Tyrannosaurus Rex
The lizard from Niger was a relatively tiny sauropod, measuring around nine meters (thirty toes) in size and weighing about 4 tons. It experienced an extended neck and tail, with a brief, narrow snout which was adapted for browsing on very low-lying vegetation.
And what a skeleton it absolutely was! The newfound fossils gave us our 1st consider the dino's difficult dental batteries and vacuum cleaner mouth. Sereno named the species Nigersaurus taqueti — as an homage to French paleontologist Philippe Taquet — in 1999.
Sadly, this has brought about misunderstandings and occasional misuse in on the web conversations. While the eye has sparked curiosity in regards to the dinosaur, Additionally, it underscores the importance of cultural sensitivity and exact interaction when discussing scientific discoveries.
This Nigersaurus was a hatchling, probably fewer than a person calendar year from hatching when it died and was fossilized.
Diplodocus cranium for comparison Its cranium was very distinctive from Diplodocus, suggesting a distinct feeding method. It had quite a few fenestrae (openings) and slender bones. It experienced a large muzzle stuffed with over 500 teeth.
Nigersaurus was named and explained in additional depth by Sereno and colleagues only in 1999, determined by stays of recently identified folks. Precisely the same write-up also named Jobaria, Yet another sauropod from Niger. The genus name Nigersaurus ("Niger reptile") is really a reference towards the country exactly where it had been discovered, and the specific title taqueti honours Taquet, who was the primary to organise significant-scale palaeontological expeditions to Niger.