Dog-Sized Dinosaur Species Discovered in Colorado

Fast Summary

• A new genus and species of neornithischian dinosaur, Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae, has been identified from teh morrison Formation in Moffat County, Colorado, USA.
• The finding is based on a three-dimensionally preserved postcranial skeleton with some associated teeth unearthed in 2021-2022.
• The dinosaur lived during the Late Jurassic epoch (150-145 million years ago) and was a two-legged herbivore approximately 0.5 m tall and 1 m long.
• Researchers believe the specimen belonged to a juvenile due to incomplete fusion in parts of its vertebral structure.
• Initially thought to be part of the poorly known genus Nanosaurus, further analysis revealed it as distinct enough to establish a new genus for taxonomic clarity.
• The discovery provides new insights into ornithischian dinosaurs’ anatomy and highlights greater diversity among small-bodied dinosaurs within the Morrison Formation ecosystem than previously recognized.

!Life reconstruction of enigmacursor mollyborthwickae

Indian Opinion Analysis

This discovery underscores advancements in paleontology that refine our understanding of prehistoric diversity, even among smaller dinosaur species often overshadowed by their larger counterparts. While geographically distant from India, such findings offer parallels for India’s own fossil studies-highlighting how evolving methodologies can reveal hidden biodiversity within formations globally.

The reclassification also demonstrates science’s commitment to taxonomic precision-beneficial for future research collaborations involving diverse international datasets. For Indian researchers studying Gondwanan ecosystems or conducting biodiversity assessments through fossils, discoveries like Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae may inspire greater focus on cryptic species often overlooked amid major finds.

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