Nigersaurus: In 1997, while paleontologist Paul Sereno was excavating dinosaur fossils in Niger’s Sahara Desert, he encountered a surprising find. Working in the Gadoufaoua region, known for its rich fossil deposits discovered by French uranium miners, Sereno initially thought he was dealing with theropod remains due to the light, aerated bones. However, as he assembled the fossils, he realized they belonged to a sauropod, or long-necked dinosaur, though its unusually shaped head was unlike any he had seen. It wasn’t until Sereno consulted with experts on fossil fish and reptiles that he was able to identify the dinosaur.
Among the myriad of strange dinosaurs, this taqueti stands out as particularly unique. Its jaw resembles a large nail clipper, lined with hundreds of teeth arranged in rows across the upper and lower jaws. Sereno, a professor of paleontology at the University of Chicago, marveled at these cranial adaptations, describing Nigersaurus as a remarkable example of evolutionary innovation.
What Did Nigersaurus Look Like?
Nigersaurus, like other sauropods, moved on four legs with a long tail and neck. However, it was smaller compared to its relatives, roughly the size of an African or Indian elephant. Its vertebrae were air-filled, similar to birds, which likely made it lighter. Its brain, about the size of a walnut, was average for sauropods. The most distinctive feature of Nigersaurus was its head, equipped with around 500 replaceable teeth. Sereno notes that these teeth, all the same size, were replaced roughly every month due to wear.
What Did Nigersaurus Eat?
The peculiar arrangement of its teeth and jaw structure suggest that Nigersaurus evolved to graze on low-lying vegetation. While grass did not exist during its time, it likely fed on similar plants, causing rapid tooth wear. Sereno likens Nigersaurus to a “Mesozoic lawnmower” due to its grazing habits.
Nigersaurus thrived during the Mesozoic Era, approximately 110 million years ago, and persisted for around 150 million years. Its herbivorous diet would have made it a prime target for predators, such as the long-snouted Suchomimus, which lived in the same fossil-rich area. Like modern grazing animals, it was abundant during its era. Sereno even discovered another specimen in a 2000 expedition, underscoring the dinosaur’s significant presence in prehistoric ecosystems.