An international team of palaeontologists has described a new species of early land vertebrate from Brazil. The species is named Tanyka amnicola. Researchers identified this unusual animal from fossils discovered in north-eastern Brazil. Their findings appear as an open access paper in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Importantly, the fossils reveal an amphibian with a very unusual jaw. The unique jaw morphology suggests adaptations to either specialised processing of small invertebrates or consumption of plants. This demonstrates that some stem tetrapods were exploring niches in ecosystems in the Southern Hemisphere during the Permian.

Fossils from the Pedra de Fogo Formation

The fossils come from the Pedra de Fogo Formation. This formation lies within the Parnaíba Basin of Brazil. Scientists recovered nine isolated lower jaws, each about fifteen centimetres long. Although researchers have not yet found other bones, these jaws reveal important clues. Professor Jörg Fröbisch from the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin played a key role in this study.

Professor Fröbisch commented that the discovery followed many years of work in the region. In fact, the first jaw was discovered during one of the earliest expeditions. For more than fifteen years, researchers have studied the fossils of the Parnaíba Basin. The project involves scientists from Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, the USA, the UK (London Natural History Museum) and Germany.

Life reconstruction of Tanyka amnicola grazing on some plants. Picture credit: Vitor Silva.

Picture credit: Vitor Silva

Tanyka amnicola An Ancient “Living Fossil”

Interestingly, Tanyka amnicola belonged to a very old lineage. As a result, the animal could already be considered a “living fossil” in its own time.

Professor Fröbisch explained:

“What is particularly exciting is that even during its lifetime around 275 million years ago, it could have been described as a living fossil, as it belongs to an archaic group that actually lived 30-50 million years earlier.”

During this period in Earth’s history Brazil was part of a supercontinent called Gondwana. This enormous landmass included South America, Africa, Antarctica and Australia.

A Remarkably Twisted Jaw

The lower jaw of Tanyka amnicola shows a very unusual structure. Lead author Jason Pardo explained that the twisted jaw initially puzzled the researchers. However, every fossil jaw shows the same shape. Therefore, the feature represents normal anatomy rather than damage or taphonomy.

The teeth point sideways rather than straight upwards. Meanwhile, the inner surface of the jaw tilts towards the palate. Furthermore, the jaw surface carries many small teeth. These teeth may have formed a rough grinding surface. When the mouth closed, the teeth probably rubbed against each other. Consequently, the animal could crush or shred food. Hence, the theory that this tetrapod may have been herbivorous, or at least plants made up a proportion of its diet.

Professor Juan Cisneros from the Federal University of Piauí, a co-author of the study believes the animal ate plants at least part of the time.

He stated:

“Based on the structure of its teeth, we assume that Tanyka ate plants at least some of the time. This is surprising, as most of its relatives were carnivores.”

Therefore, Tanyka amnicola may represent an early experiment in herbivory among early tetrapods.

A Window into Early Permian Ecosystems

Fossils from the early Permian are relatively rare. Consequently, every discovery provides valuable information. The Pedra de Fogo Formation offers one of the few windows into Gondwana’s ecosystems at that time.

Co-author Dr Kenneth Angielczyk commented:

“The Pedra de Fogo Formation offers one of the few windows into the animal world of Gondwana during the early Permian period. Tanyka shows us which animals lived there and what ecological roles they played.”

Fossils from this Formation also help scientists understand how early tetrapods interacted.

Tanyka amnicola probably lived close to rivers and lakes. The species name reflects its habitat, the word “amnicola” translates as “river dweller”.  The genus name is derived from the local Guaraní language, it translates as “jaw”.

Researchers estimate that Tanyka amnicola may have reached around one metre in length.

More Discoveries May Follow

At present, scientists only know the animal from jawbones. However, future discoveries could change that. For example, researchers hope to find skulls or articulated skeletons. Such fossils would help reconstruct the entire animal.

Nevertheless, even these isolated jaws provide remarkable insight.

For now, Tanyka amnicola offers a fascinating glimpse into early tetrapod evolution. Moreover, it highlights the importance of the Pedra de Fogo Formation in revealing an ancient ecosystem from Gondwana.

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin in the compilation of this article.

The scientific paper: “An aberrant stem tetrapod from the early Permian of Brazil” by Jason D. Pardo, Claudia A. Marsicano, Roger Smith, Juan Carlos Cisneros, Kenneth D. Angielczyk, Jörg Fröbisch, Christian F. Kammerer and Martha Richter published in the Royal Society Proceedings B.

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Today, we join friends and family in Wales to celebrate St David’s Day.  It is an annual Welsh celebration held on the first day of March. This day honours Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, whose life and legacy are remembered with pride and cultural festivities right across the nation. Across the country, people wear daffodils and leeks. They wave the striking Welsh flag, proudly displaying its iconic red dragon. This heraldic dragon symbol, known in Welsh as Y Ddraig Goch, has deep roots in legend, folklore, and national identity.  However, what is the connection between dragons and the Dinosauria? Quite a lot, in fact!

Dragons and the Dinosauria

To vertebrate palaeontologists, the word dragon often conjures images of legendary beasts. Yet, it also has a clear connection to prehistoric life. Many dinosaur names contain the suffix – saurus, a Greek word meaning “lizard”. In China, new dinosaur species often include “long” in their names — a word that translates to dragon. For example, we recently wrote a blog article highlighting the discovery of a remarkable iguanodontid dinosaur from China named Haolong dongi. The genus name translates as “spiny dragon”.

To read our post: “Spiny Dragon” Reveals Secrets of Dinosaur Skin.

Researchers examining the Haolong dongi fossil material. Picture credit: Thierry Hubin (Institute of Natural Sciences).

Picture credit: Thierry Hubin (Institute of Natural Sciences)

Many dinosaur discoveries spark imaginations just like mythical dragons do. Their enormous sizes, sharp teeth and reptilian skins have fuelled human stories for centuries.  For instance, there are several Chinese dinosaurs represented by CollectA Delxue models. The beautiful CollectA Deluxe Beishanlong model is a favourite.   This theropod’s name translates as “Northern White Mountains Dragon”.

The CollectA 1:40 scale Beishanlong dinosaur model shown in lateral view. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the CollectA range of scale models in stock: CollectA Deluxe Dinosaur Models.

Dragons and Dinosaurs

Both dragons of myth and real prehistoric reptiles remind us how powerful ancient reptiles captured human imagination. They also help us celebrate cultural heritage alongside scientific discovery.

So, on this St David’s Day, let’s give a nod to Wales and its enduring dragon symbol. We acknowledge the cultural significance of this day and that dinosaurs and dragons are entwined.

Mike from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“Happy St David’s Day to all our Welsh readers and dinosaur fans everywhere!”

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Tyrannosaurus rex remains one of the most iconic dinosaurs. People imagine this giant predator thundering across Late Cretaceous landscapes chasing prey. But new science suggests it didn’t stomp like a lumbering beast. Instead, it may have moved in a way more akin to extant flightless birds such as an ostrich. Researchers from the College of the Atlantic (Maine), Oklahoma State University, Colorado Northwestern Community College and the late Scott Swann examined how the feet of T. rex interacted with the ground as it walked. This new study into Tyrannosaurus rex foot function provides new information about theropod gait and speed.

They combined measurements of bones, predictive equations and comparisons with living animals like ostriches.  Their study has been published this week in Royal Society Open Science.

Tyrannosaurus rex Foot Function – Walking on Tiptoes

Traditional reconstructions assumed T. rex made contact with the ground using the heel first. This would give a broad, flat footfall and a slow, ponderous stride. But the new analysis turned this idea on its head. The deepest parts of known fossil footprints sit under the toes, not the heel. That suggests the dinosaur struck the ground mainly with the front of its foot, much like birds do today.

This “tiptoe” style of locomotion is very different from how we once thought giant theropods walked. Instead of low, heavy steps, T. rex likely took shorter, quicker strides, with its weight balanced over the toes. That’s remarkably similar to the way fast, bipedal birds like ostriches move.

A new study provides new information about Tyrannosaurus rex locomotion and gait. The researchers postulate that T. rex struck the ground with its toes first.  The Everything Dinosaur Evolution Tyrannosaurus rex display base features three-toed theropod prints that have been modelled based on real tyrannosaur tracks. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Locomotion and Speed

As the researchers postulate that the toes struck the ground first and that the stride was rapid, the authors propose that T. rex may have moved quicker than previously estimated. Their calculations suggest speeds of roughly 5–11 metres per second. That translates to about 11–25 miles per hour (17.7 to 40.2 kph).  Still not quite fast enough to chase down a jeep as depicted in the 1993 film “Jurassic Park” but quicker than previous research has suggested.

So, T. rex could run faster than David Beckham: Locomotion and Velocity Study (Theropod Dinosaurs).

To put this in perspective, ostriches can sprint at over 40 km/h (25 mph). A dinosaur as massive as T. rex using a bird-like gait is a fascinating twist on our view of its locomotion. Of course, how fast any individual dinosaur really ran would depend on age, health and body size. But this paper gives us a new way to think about how it moved.  Indeed, the research team provides estimates of velocity for different T. rex specimens within their dataset.

Estimated speeds of T. rex specimens within the dataset used in the Tyrannosaurus rex foot function study. Different dinosaur models including the Everything Dinosaur Evolution T. rex model are used to illustrate the estimated velocity. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur based on the Boeye et al paper.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur based on the Boeye et al paper

Footprints and the Everything Dinosaur Evolution T. rex Model

Everything Dinosaur’s Evolution T. rex model beautifully captures one aspect of this research. The display base features replicated Tyrannosaurus footprints from the fossil record. These prints are not just decorative. They reflect real ichnological data, and they give us clues about gait and stance.  For example, the two tracks on the display base have been carefully modelled.  They have deeper toes than heels and this reflects the evidence presented in this scientific paper.

The tracks on the Everything Dinosaur Evolution display base are based on actual prints from the fossil record. The deeper toe area indicates that these tracks reflect the latest research. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the Everything Dinosaur Evolution model range: Everything Dinosaur Evolution Models.

The new study’s findings resonate with that real footprint evidence. If T. rex walked with a bird-like foot function, then those tracks on our model base become even more meaningful. They show where the animal shifted weight onto its toes, aligning with the idea of higher stride frequency and elevated speed potential.

The Movement of Extinct Animals

The movement of extinct animals has interested numerous researchers.  Tyrannosaurus rex locomotion has been extensively studied, in part, due to an iconic scene from “Jurassic Park”. The research team used complex statistical analysis to compare fossil specimens with extant animals including ostriches. Additionally, the models are consistent with recent studies suggesting slower to more intermediate top speeds for adult Tyrannosaurus that fall within the range of 5–11 metres per second. This study lays the groundwork for future studies to add comparisons with additional theropods and potentially identify ecological differences between species.

This research doesn’t just revise a number on a speed chart. It touches on how the largest land predator of its time interacted with its environment. A bird-like gait has implications for energy use, hunting strategy, balance and stability. It also reinforces the evolutionary link between theropod dinosaurs and modern birds.

In summary, T. rex may have been both terrifying and surprisingly agile. With Tyrannosaurus rex foot function studies like this, we continue to peel back layers of preconception about how dinosaurs lived and moved. And models like Everything Dinosaur’s Evolution T. rex help us share that story with collectors and enthusiasts around the world.

The scientific paper: “Evidence of bird-like foot function in Tyrannosaurus” by Adrian Tussel Boeye, Kyle Logan Atkins-Weltman, J. Logan King and Scott Swann published in the Royal Society Open Science.

The award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

Palaeontologists have revealed an extraordinary new species of dinosaur. This giant theropod, named Spinosaurus mirabilis, lived around ninety-five million years ago in what is now the central Sahara Desert. It is the first new species in the Spinosaurus genus described in more than a century.

The discovery challenges long-held ideas about how spinosaurids lived and hunted. The name mirabilis means “marvellous” in Latin, reflecting the unique and striking anatomy of this Cretaceous piscivore.

A Spinosaurus mirabilis has caught a coelacanth. Picture credit: D. Navarro.

Picture credit: D. Navarro

A Remarkable Discovery

The story began in 2019 when scientists pulled a massive, oddly shaped bone from Sahara sands. The scimitar-shaped crest of this dinosaur was so large and unexpected that the scientists initially did not recognise it for what it was. Only after a return expedition was despatched (2022) and the discovery of additional fossils did the truth emerge — a new dinosaur species had been found.

The research team, led by the University of Chicago’s Paul Sereno, published the findings in the academic journal “Science”.

Based on the crest’s surface texture and interior vascular canals, the study team concluded that this crest was sheathed in keratin.  It may have been brightly coloured and played a role in species identification and visual display.

Ana Lázaro holding crest of Spinosaurus mirabilis in field. Picture credit: Alvaro Simarro.

Picture credit: Alvaro Simarro

Another striking feature of the skull is its interdigitating upper and lower tooth rows. These make a deadly trap for slippery fish. Interdigitating teeth, where those of the lower jaw protrude outward and between those of the uppers, is a time-honoured adaptation on among piscivores in the fossil record. For example, this type of dentition is found in ichthyosaurs, crocodilians and pterosaurs. Among dinosaurs, it sets Spinosaurus and closest kin apart.

Commenting on the significance of this discovery, lead author Paul Sereno, (PhD, Professor of Organismal Biology and Anatomy at the University of Chicago) stated:

“This find was so sudden and amazing, it was really emotional for our team. I’ll forever cherish the moment in camp when we crowded around a laptop to look at the new species for the first time, after one member of our team generated 3D digital models of the bones we found to assemble the skull — on solar power in the middle of the Sahara. That’s when the significance of the discovery really registered.”

Field team members getting their first look at the tall crested Spinosaurus skull. Picture credit: Jessica Schwartz.

Picture credit: Jessica Schwartz

What Made Spinosaurus mirabilis Special?

Previously, spinosaurid bones and teeth had only been found principally in coastal deposits. This led to some experts postulating that these fish-eating theropods may have been fully aquatic, pursuing prey underwater. However, the new fossil area in Niger documents animals that were living inland, some 500 to 1000 km from the nearest coastline. The proximity of the spinosaurid material to the fossilised remains of sauropods suggest that this was a forested, inland ecosystem crossed by many rivers.

Paul Sereno added:

“I envision this dinosaur as a kind of ‘hell heron’ that had no problem wading on its sturdy legs into two metres of water but probably spent most of its time stalking shallower traps for the many large fish of the day.”

Paul Sereno with a cast of the skull of Spinosaurus mirabilis. Picture credit: K. Ladzinski.

Picture credit: K. Ladzinski

An Amazing Journey

The journey that culminated in this remarkable fossil discovery began with a single sentence in a monograph from the 1950s.  A French geologist mentioned finding a single fossil tooth resembling those of the giant carnivore Carcharodontosaurus found in Egypt’s Western Desert at the turn of the last century.

The field team ended up meeting a local Tuareg man who led them on his motorbike deep into centre of the Sahara, where he had seen huge fossil bones. After nearly a day of travel with no shortage of doubts regarding the success of this venture, the local man led them to the fossil site (Jenguebi).  There, with little time to spare before returning to camp, the team found teeth and jaw bones of what turned out to be a new Spinosaurus species.

The snout end of Spinosaurus mirabilis weathering out of the substrate. Picture credit: Daniel Vidal.

Picture credit: Daniel Vidal

What Does this Mean for the Spinosauridae?

The discovery of Spinosaurus mirabilis expands our view of spinosaurid evolution. It shows that these theropods were not restricted to coastal habitats. Instead, they thrived inland inhabiting river systems.  This new Spinosaurus species suggests that the spinosaurids diversified in ways we are only beginning to understand.

This species helps fill a gap in the fossil record. It hints at a broader evolutionary story across Africa’s Cretaceous landscapes.

The locality, representing the Farak Formation may yield numerous vertebrate remains. The spinosaurid material is approximately ninety-five million old (Cenomanian faunal stage of the Late Cretaceous). At the end of the Cenomanian faunal stage, an abrupt rise in sea levels and climate change probably brought the spinosaurid radiation to an end.

The Phylogeny of Spinosaurus mirabilis

A time-calibrated phylogenetic analysis resolves three Spinosauridae evolutionary phases. Firstly, an initial Jurassic radiation when their distinctive elongate fish-snaring skull evolved and split into two distinctive designs, baryonychine and spinosaurine. Secondly, an Early Cretaceous circum-Tethyan diversification when both reigned as dominant predators. Finally, an early Late Cretaceous phase when spinosaurines attained maximum body size as shallow water ambush specialists limited geographically to northern Africa and South America.

The discovery of the tall-crested Spinosaurus mirabilis in a river system within an inland basin supports a lifestyle interpretation of a wading, shoreline predator with visual display an important aspect of its biology.

Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from the University of Chicago in the compilation of this article.

The scientific paper: “Scimitar-crested Spinosaurus species from the Sahara caps stepwise spinosaurid radiation” by Paul C. Sereno, Daniel Vidal, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Evan Johnson-Ransom, María Ciudad Real, Stephanie L. Baumgart, Noelia Sánchez Fontela, Todd L. Green, Evan T. Saitta, Boubé Adamou, Lauren L. Bop, Tyler M. Keillor, Erin C. Fitzgerald, Didier B. Dutheil, Robert A. S. Laroche, Alexandre V. Demers-Potvin, Álvaro Simarro, Francesc Gascó-Lluna, Ana Lázaro, Arturo Gamonal, Charles V. Beightol, Vincent Reneleau, Rachel Vautrin, Filippo Bertozzo, Alejandro Granados, Grace Kinney-Broderick, Jordan C. Mallon, Rafael M. Lindoso and Jahandar Ramezani. Paper published in the journal Science.

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