New Dinosaur Species Discovered in Venezuela

A new species of two-legged dinosaur about the size of a fox has been discovered in Venezuela by science teams from the University of Zurich and The Natural History museum in London.

The scientists believe the fossils it came from an ancestor of either the Stegosaurus or Triceratops. They named the new species "Laquintasaura venezuelae."

 

The new species is believed to have lived over 200 million years ago at the start of the Jurassic period.

The discovery suggests these species advanced quickly across the globe after the major extinction of the Triassic Period.

Dr. Paul Barrett, lead author and palaeontologist in the Natural History Museum, said the dinosaur was only about three feet (one meter) long and one foot tall.

The dinosaur's bones also showed the specie was an omnivore that lived on ferns. The teeth were unusual, however.

"The teeth are very unusual, with a tall, narrow triangular outline, tips that are slightly curved backward, coarse serrations along the margins and thin ridges that extend up and along the crown," said Dr. Barrett.

Because of the unusual teeth, researchers suggested the species only took small prey like large insects.

Dr. Barrett said that Laquintasaura venezuelae is the very first new dinosaur species discovered from Venezuela. He also believes Laquintasaura traveled in herds.

Dr. Barrett said this discovery also suggests there might be other dinosaur species in other areas of South America. Africa and other parts of the globe may have undiscovered species if explored thoroughly.