In a groundbreaking discovery, paleontologists have unearthed the fossilized remains of two T. rex cousins in the Ouled Abdoun Basin, located in northern Morocco.
These fossils offer a glimpse into the diversity of dinosaurs that roamed Morocco approximately 66 million years ago, just before the end-Cretaceous mass extinction.
The New Species
The newly discovered dinosaur species belonged to the Abelisauridae family, carnivorous dinosaurs that were counterparts to the tyrannosaurs of the northern hemisphere. These species had distinct features such as short, bulldog-like snouts and very short arms. One of the species was about 2.5 meters (8 feet) long and is represented by a fossilized foot bone found near the town of Sidi Daoui. The other species, discovered near Sidi Chennane, measured around 5 meters (15 feet) in length and is represented by a shin bone.
An Unexpected Habitat
What makes this discovery particularly intriguing is the environment in which these fossils were found. According to University of Bath paleontologist Nick Longrich, the fossils were unearthed in marine beds, a shallow tropical sea teeming with plesiosaurs, mosasaurs, and sharks. "It’s not exactly a place you’d expect to find a lot of dinosaurs. But we’re finding them," Longrich stated.
Diversity in the Face of Extinction
The fossils suggest that as many as three abelisaurid species coexisted in Morocco around 66 million years ago. This indicates that dinosaurs were highly diverse in North Africa prior to the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. Contrary to the declining biodiversity observed in western North America during the same period, dinosaurs in Morocco seemed to have remained diverse and successful up until the end.
Global Implications
Dr. Longrich emphasized that the decline in dinosaur diversity in western North America should not be generalized to the entire world. "In Morocco at least, they seem to have remained diverse and successful up until the end," he said. Professor Nour-Eddine Jalil, a paleontologist at the Natural History Museum and at the Universite Cadi Ayyad, added that abelisaurs were the apex predators in North Africa when T. rex dominated North America.
The discovery of these T. rex cousins in Morocco challenges existing paradigms about dinosaur diversity and their habitats. It also raises questions about the global implications of the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. The findings, published in the journal Cretaceous Research, contribute to our understanding of prehistoric life and offer a new perspective on the biodiversity of dinosaurs just before a major extinction event.
This discovery not only adds to the paleontological record but also enriches our understanding of the complex ecosystems that existed millions of years ago. It serves as a reminder that the story of Earth's past is still being written, one fossil at a time.