Rare Dinosaur Skeleton Exposed in Brazil After Erosion From Catastrophic Flooding
A team of paleontologists in Sao Joao do Polesine, Brazil, discovered in May fossils of an “almost-complete dinosaur,” estimated to be approximately 233 million years old, the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria said.
Led by Rodrigo Temp Muller, the researchers initially found a partially exposed fossil in the region. It was later identified in the laboratory as an almost complete Herrerasauridae dinosaur, potentially ranking as the second-most complete specimen of its kind globally, the university said.
Measuring around 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) in length, the fossil will undergo additional study to determine whether it belongs to a known species or represents a new discovery.
While natural weathering exposes new fossils annually in central Rio Grande do Sul, recent excessive rainfall has accelerated erosion, leading to the emergence of new fossils from among the rocks, according to the institution. Credit: Rodrigo Temp Muller / Janaina Brand Dillmann / CAPPA – UFSM via Storyful
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