The flood disaster in southern Brazil has unearthed a dinosaur skeleton that is about 200 million years old and “very well preserved,” according to paleontologists. The fossil was found in May near the city of São João do Polêsine, about 280 kilometers (175 miles) west of Porto Alegre.
It took a team of paleontologists from the University of Santa Maria City four days to excavate the “nearly complete” dinosaur skeleton from a large fossil deposit in the Brazilian pampas and bring it to the lab for analysis, said study leader Rodrigo Temp Müller.
Animals lived 200 million years ago
According to initial findings, the specimen belongs to the Herrerasauridae group. These were carnivorous dinosaurs that moved on two legs and were found in what is now Brazil and Argentina in the Triassic period, 250 to 200 million years ago.
According to Temp Müller, a complete Herrerasaurus skeleton has only been found once so far. This discovery in the same region of southern Brazil in 2014 led to the identification of the dinosaur species Gnathovorax cabreira.
The new fossil will now undergo multiple analyses to determine whether it belongs to this species. “We have to be very careful and meticulous, almost surgical, in this work,” says Temp Müller. This process can take “several months.” The results will then be published in a scientific journal.
Heavy rain caused severe damage
In May, more than 180 people died in floods in southern Brazil. Heavy rain that lasted for days also caused serious damage to property.
The flood was useful for paleontologists, however, because it made the fossil visible much earlier through “accelerated erosion” than would normally have been the case. But storms can also be a danger to fossils, paleontologist Temp Müller points out. Heavy rain also destroys “a lot of material,” especially small fragments.
Source: Krone
I am an experienced and passionate journalist with a strong track record in news website reporting. I specialize in technology coverage, breaking stories on the latest developments and trends from around the world. Working for Today Times Live has given me the opportunity to write thought-provoking pieces that have caught the attention of many readers.
