The 2 skulls of the brand-new species come from a juvenile and a nearly adult individual. The brand-new Greenlandic dinosaur varies from all other sauropodomorphs found so far, nevertheless it does have resemblances with dinosaurs discovered in Brazil, such as the Macrocollum and Unaysaurus, which are almost 15 million years older.
The new findings are the first proof of a distinct Greenlandic dinosaur types, which not only contributes to the diverse series of dinosaurs from the Late Triassic (235-201 million years ago) but also enables us to much better comprehend the evolutionary paths and timeline of the iconic group of sauropods that populated the Earth for nearly 150 million years.
Once the scientific work is completed, the fossils will be transferred to the Natural History Museum of Denmark.
Referral: “Issi saaneq gen. et sp. nov.– A New Sauropodomorph Dinosaur from the Late Triassic (Norian) of Jameson Land, Central East Greenland” by Victor Beccari, Octávio Mateus, Oliver Wings, Jesper Milàn and Lars B. Clemmensen, 3 November 2021, Diversity.DOI: 10.3390/ d13110561.
The two-legged dinosaur Issi saaneq lived about 214 million years earlier in what is now Greenland. The initial remains of the dinosaur– 2 unspoiled skulls– were very first discovered in 1994 throughout an excavation in East Greenland by paleontologists from Harvard University. One of the specimens was originally thought to be from a Plateosaurus, a well-known long-necked dinosaur that lived in Germany, France, and Switzerland throughout the Triassic Period. The plant-eating dinosaur Issi saaneq lived around 214 million years ago during the Late Triassic Period. The new Greenlandic dinosaur differs from all other sauropodomorphs found so far, nevertheless it does have resemblances with dinosaurs found in Brazil, such as the Macrocollum and Unaysaurus, which are nearly 15 million years older.
The plant-eating dinosaur Issi saaneq lived around 214 million years back throughout the Late Triassic Period. It was at this time that the supercontinent Pangaea disintegrated and the Atlantic Ocean began forming. “At the time, the Earth was experiencing environment changes that made it possible for the very first plant-eating dinosaurs to reach Europe and beyond,” describes Professor Lars Clemmensen from the University of Copenhagen.
Living reconstruction of Issi saaneq, a newly discovered dinosaur that survived on Greenland 214 million years earlier. Credit: Victor Beccari
The two-legged dinosaur Issi saaneq lived about 214 million years earlier in what is now Greenland. It was a medium-sized, long-necked herbivore and a predecessor of the sauropods, the biggest land animals ever to live.
The preliminary remains of the dinosaur– two well-preserved skulls– were first uncovered in 1994 throughout an excavation in East Greenland by paleontologists from Harvard University. One of the specimens was initially thought to be from a Plateosaurus, a well-known long-necked dinosaur that lived in Germany, France, and Switzerland during the Triassic Period.
Issi saaneq skulls (holotype on the top, paratype on the bottom). Picture and 3D models after the CT-scan. Credit: Victor Beccari
The team performed a micro-CT scan of the bones, which allowed them to produce digital 3D models of the internal structures and the bones still covered by sediment. “The anatomy of the two skulls is unique in numerous aspects, for example in the shape and percentages of the bones. These specimens certainly come from a brand-new species,” states lead author Victor Beccari, who brought out the analyses at NOVA University Lisbon.