Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –
Paleontologists identified a new species of dinosaur thought to have lived 73 million years ago in northern Mexico.
The dinosaur was called Tlatolophus Galorum. Its tail was first spotted in the General Ccycle area of northern Coahuila state in 2013.
“About 72 or 73 years ago, large herbivorous dinosaurs died in what were bodies of water filled with sediment, so that their bodies were quickly covered by the earth and could be preserved for centuries,” said the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) in Northern Mexico, quoted by AFP Friday (14/5).
After finding the animal’s tail, the scientists continued excavating and found 80 percent of the remains of a skull with a crest or ilaka 1.32 meters long, thighbones and shoulders so the researchers could trace the species.
“We know that they have ears with the capacity to hear low frequency sounds, so they must be a peaceful but talkative dinosaur,” INAH added.
Paleontologists believe the dinosaurs made powerful sounds to scare off predators or for reproductive purposes.
The name Tlatolophus comes from the native Mexican word tlahtolli, Nahuatl, meaning “word” or “statement”, and the Greek word lophus meaning “peak”.
Meanwhile, the findings are still under investigation. However, research on ancient reptiles has been published in the scientific journal Cretaceous Research.
“This is an extraordinary case in Mexican palentology,” the institute said.
(fey / vws)
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