This unknown dinosaur once lived in Zimbabwe, it is believed that its size is very large

CAPE TOWN – Musanwa fossil Sanyatiensis consisted of one hind leg, including the femur, tibia, and ankle bones and were the largest dinosaurs of their time.

In a rare discovery, researchers have found fossils of an entirely new species of dinosaur on the shores of Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe.

This rare find, named Musankwa Sanyatiensis, is the fourth dinosaur species to be discovered in Zimbabwe. Research on this discovery was published in Acta Palaeonlogica Polonica.

An international team made up of scientists from Stony Brook University in New York, the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe, and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa and led by Professor Paul Barrett from the Natural History Museum in London.

Musankwa Sanyatiensis has emerged as an important discovery as it is the first named dinosaur from the Middle Zambezi Basin in northern Zimbabwe in the past 50 years.

The rocks that formed this new dinosaur specimen come from the Late Triassic Period, which is almost 210 million years ago.

The remains of Musankwa Sanyatiensis consist of one hind leg, including the femur, tibia and ankle.

Professor at Stony Brook University, Dr. Kimberley “Kimi” Chapelle said, “Despite limited fossil material, these bones have unique characteristics that distinguish them from the bones of other dinosaurs that lived at the same time.”

In an evolutionary analysis, Musankwa Sanyatiensis was revealed to be a member of Sauropodomorpha, a group of long-necked bipedal dinosaurs that were widespread in the Late Triassic.

Interestingly, this species appears to be closely related to its counterparts in Argentina and South Africa.

Musankwa Sanyatiensis was one of the largest dinosaurs of its time. It weighs around 390 kg and eats plants.

The discovery of this new species also highlights the area’s untapped potential for further paleontological discoveries.

(wbs)