Uncovered in Mongolia's Gobi Desert: Ancient Dome-headed Dinosaur, believed to be the oldest ever found, protruding from a cliff
In the heart of Mongolia's Gobi Desert, a team of paleontologists has made a once-in-a-lifetime find that could revolutionise our understanding of dome-head dinosaurs, or pachycephalosaurs. The fossilised remains of a juvenile dinosaur, named Zavacephalae rinpoche, have been discovered, pushing back the timeline for the emergence of these fascinating creatures by about 15 million years.
The fossil, which dates back to the Early Cretaceous period (145 million to 100 million years ago), is estimated to have measured about 3.3 feet (1 meter) long and weighed around 12.9 pounds (5.85 kilograms) in life. Remarkably, Zavacephalae rinpoche's growth rings in its lower leg bone suggest that it was still growing when it died.
The discovery provides an unprecedented glimpse into the anatomy and biology of pachycephalosaurs. The fossil includes about 54% of the dinosaur's bones, including the skull and entire tail, as well as several hand and leg bones and stomach stones. The most intriguing aspect is the fully developed dome on Zavacephalae rinpoche's skull, a feature characteristic of pachycephalosaurs.
The dome development in Zavacephalae rinpoche suggests that it reached sexual maturity before it was fully grown. This finding could offer new insights into the maturation process of these enigmatic dinosaurs. Furthermore, the growth stage of Zavacephalae rinpoche can be coupled with dome development for the first time, potentially providing details about the evolution and development of pachycephalosaur's bizarre rounded skulls.
The discovery could also help scientists better understand the behaviour and reproductive strategies of pachycephalosaurs. Some scientists suggest that these dinosaurs may have kick-boxed like kangaroos instead of butting heads, a theory that could be further explored with the data from Zavacephalae rinpoche.
A new study, published in the journal Nature, reports this significant find. Although the name of the paleontologist involved in the discovery is not publicly available, their work has pushed the boundaries of our knowledge about pachycephalosaurs, a group of dinosaurs that thrived during the Late Cretaceous period (between 86 million and 66 million years ago). The discovery of Zavacephalae rinpoche pushes back the timeline for the emergence of these fascinating creatures by about 15 million years, offering a fascinating glimpse into their early evolution.
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