Scientists discover new dinosaur species in Zimbabwe
Scientists have discovered a new dinosaur species, Musango matusadonaensis, in northern Zimbabwe. The find provides new insights into the diverse ecosystems of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana during the Late Triassic period.
Why it matters
This discovery helps fill significant gaps in the fossil record of Africa, which is less studied than European or North American sites, and clarifies early dinosaur evolution.
Scientists have identified a new dinosaur species on the shores of Lake Kariba in northern Zimbabwe, offering fresh evidence of how dinosaurs lived and evolved across southern Africa more than 210 million years ago.
The species, named Musango matusadonaensis, is the fifth dinosaur ever described from Zimbabwe and lived during the Late Triassic period when dinosaurs were beginning to spread across the globe but had not yet become dominant.
The lightly built sauropodomorph, about 4.5 metres long and weighing roughly 220 kilogrammes, was excavated in 2018 by an international team from the UK, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Fossils from its spine, arms and feet indicate it was nearly fully grown at around eight years old.
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