The dinosaur's vertebrae was filled with air pockets similar to All those of birds, Hence the dinosaur was probably really light-weight, in addition. Its Mind was regarding the dimensions of a walnut, which is kind of normal for sauropods, Sereno states.
Its head is what definitely stands out about Nigersaurus, although. The jaws, that have a flat entrance, are lined with about five hundred teeth, which Sereno suggests were being replaceable. These teeth were all the identical in measurement, and he estimates which they likely only lasted about a month or so in advance of they were worn down.
Its feeding model has become in comparison with that of recent grazing animals or even a vacuum cleaner, as it probable swept its head facet-to-facet even though consuming vegetation.
As an example, its fossils suggest that it had a wide, deep ribcage which could have permitted it to absorb significant amounts of air, facilitating its respiratory and supplying the oxygen it required to sustain its massive human body.
Whilst other large animals examined (including rhinoceroses) had thick and variable bone cortices, the cortex of Nigersaurus was alternatively thin. These researchers advised the microanatomy of sauropods wasn't affected by drastic selective pressure brought on by bearing weight, but that features including the columnar limbs (as viewed in elephants), pneumaticity, and fleshy foot pads and cartilage comfortable force about the bones. Additionally they proposed that sauropods could as a result are already lighter in body weight than envisioned for their size, supporting the lowest human body mass estimates for these dinosaurs.[22]
In 2019, Mannion and colleagues identified that due to the fact Nigersaurus was identified to be the sister taxon of all other nigersaurines in certain reports, a Rebbachisaurinae clade may well not automatically include Nigersaurus alone (together with the undeniable fact that the place of Rebbachisaurus could alter in future analyses), and supported the ongoing use in the name Nigersaurinae more than Rebbachisaurinae for all rebbachisaurids extra intently connected with Nigersaurus than to Limaysaurus.
In 2019, Mannion and colleagues identified that given that Nigersaurus was identified to be the sister taxon of all other nigersaurines in certain research, a Rebbachisaurinae clade may well not necessarily consist of Nigersaurus itself (as well as the proven fact that the posture of Rebbachisaurus could modify in foreseeable future analyses), and supported the ongoing use in the identify Nigersaurinae around Rebbachisaurinae for all rebbachisaurids a lot more intently linked to Nigersaurus than to Limaysaurus.
The Nigersaurus was a ground-amount browser. Its large muzzle, coupled with its various teeth, authorized it to soak up large amounts of vegetation in a single bite. The orientation of its teeth, all positioned on the front of its jaws, enabled it to effectively crop and Assemble foodstuff near to the what dinosaur has 500 teeth bottom.
Nigersaurus experienced a jaw structure in contrast to some other dinosaur. Its wide, squared-off muzzle housed around 500 slender, pencil-like teeth. These teeth were not evenly dispersed but were being arranged in columns and rows, with as numerous as nine substitute teeth driving Every single Energetic tooth.
Fossil proof implies it lived in what has become the Sahara Desert, feeding on ferns as well as other vegetation in its lush, riverine habitat.
But that’s not all for Nigersaurus. Chris took us all to a flat region of purple-colored sandstone exactly where he had located the higher jaw of the toddler Nigersaurus—a single that might in shape on top of a silver dollar!
Skeletal diagram demonstrating known elements and size comparison Sereno as well as the American palaeontologist Jeffrey A. Wilson offered the main in depth description of the skull and feeding adaptations in 2005.[1] In 2007, a more specific description with the skeleton was published by Sereno ad colleagues, depending on a specimen uncovered 10 yrs earlier. The fossils, along with a reconstructed skeleton mount plus a plastic design of The top and neck, were being subsequently introduced at the National Geographic Society in Washington.
And what a skeleton it had been! The newfound fossils gave us our initial think about 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.
‘ funny-hunting cranium, battery of teeth, and tiny size for the sauropod have certainly gained it an area in the annals of dinosaur oddities.