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Source- This post on Musankwa Sanyatiensis has been created based on the article “Musankwa sanyatiensis, a new dinosaur from Zimbabwe discovered” published in “PHYS.ORG” on 7 June 2024.
Why in News?
Scientists discovered fossils on the shoreline of Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe that represent a completely new dinosaur species.
About Musankwa Sanyatiensis
1. Musankwa sanyatiensis is a newly identified dinosaur species found from fossils along the shores of Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe.
2. This is the first dinosaur named from the Mid-Zambezi Basin in northern Zimbabwe in over 50 years and only the fourth dinosaur ever named from Zimbabwe.
3. “Musankwa” is named after the houseboat scientists used during their expeditions. “Sanyatiensis” refers to the Sanyati River that flows into Lake Kariba.
4. Musankwa sanyatiensis was a plant-eater and mainly lived in swampy areas.
5. Previous Discoveries: The other three dinosaurs named from Zimbabwe are “Syntarsus” rhodesiensis (1969), Vulcanodon karibaensis (1972), and Mbiresaurus raathi (2022). The rocks where Musankwa sanyatiensis was found date back to the Late Triassic period, about 210 million years ago.
6. Fossil Details:
i) The dinosaur is known from a single hind leg, including the thigh, shin, and ankle bones.
ii) Musankwa sanyatiensis weighed around 390 kg, making it one of the larger dinosaurs of its time.
7. Evolutionary Significance:
i) It belonged to the Sauropodomorpha, a group of bipedal, long-necked dinosaurs common in the Late Triassic.
ii) It is closely related to similar dinosaurs found in South Africa and Argentina.
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