Duck-billed dinosaurs crossed the sea to Africa

A team of paleontologists announces the discovery of a hadrosaur, or “duck-billed dinosaur”, in Africa. This interesting preview brings out the even more intriguing idea that these dinosaurs crossed the sea to reach this continent.

The Hadrosauridae, better known as “duck-billed dinosaurs”, are a very common family of ornithopod dinosaurs that have become extinct. We know from fossils that these creatures evolved in North America before eventually spreading across land bridges to South America, Asia and Europe.

A team of paleontologists today announced the discovery of the remains (teeth and jaws) of one of these animals. It is 66 million years old and represents a new species called Ajnabia Odysseus. His specialty? It was found in Africa. However, we know that at that time the African continent was isolated from sea routes.

“It’s like finding a kangaroo in Scotland”
The discovery of the new fossil in a mine a few hours from Casablanca was, according to Dr Nicholas Longrich of the Milner Center for Evolution at the University of Bath, who led the study, may be “the last thing in the world”. “It’s like finding a kangaroo in Scotland.”

“Once you have eliminated the impossible, whatever is unlikely must be the truth,” continues the researcher, citing Sherlock Holmes. “At that time it was impossible to go to Africa. These dinosaurs actually evolved long after continental drift divided continents and we have no evidence of land bridges. ”

A crossing while swimming or on rafts
The big question is also: how did this dinosaur, which was about three meters long, get there?

“Given the existence of large persistent sea routes isolating Africa and Europe from other continents and the lack of the extensive two-way trade that characterizes land bridges, these models suggest dispersions across marine reefs similar to those observed in Kenozoic mammals. , in the reptiles and amphibians that we read in the study.

For the paleontologist it is possible that this and probably other specimens have reached the African coasts by swimming in open water or by hitchhiking on detrital rafts.

The first hypothesis is valid. Indeed, as the researcher points out, these broad-tailed, stout-legged dinosaurs were likely good swimmers. Additionally, many associated bones have been isolated in river deposits. Even so, he points out that these animals had to travel hundreds of kilometers before reaching the coast.

The second hypothesis is also interesting. Ocean crossings on debris rafts are rare but have been documented. Green iguanas traveled between islands in the Caribbean due to a hurricane. Ocean crossings also explain how lemurs and hippos arrived in Madagascar, or how monkeys crossed the Atlantic from Africa to finally arrive in South America.

I am a constantly traveling writer focused on trends in technology, health and international e-commerce from scratch. I’ve been traveling for the past three years looking for a book coming out in 2019. I’ve been featured, interviewed or appeared on CNBC Squawk Box, Forbes.com, VICE, BBC World, and NPR, or appeared there morning issue.