Sun Jan 26 04:07:38 UTC 2025: ## Dinosaurs’ Cradle Found in Ancient Sahara and Amazon

**London, January 26, 2025** – New research suggests that dinosaurs originated not in southern South America or Africa as previously thought, but in a region encompassing parts of present-day Sahara Desert and Amazon rainforest. This surprising conclusion, published in *Current Biology*, is based on the location of the oldest known dinosaur fossils, their evolutionary relationships, and the Earth’s geography during the Triassic Period.

Lead author Joel Heath, a paleontology doctoral student at University College London and the Natural History Museum, explained that during the Triassic period, all continents formed the supercontinent Pangaea. Dinosaurs emerged in Gondwana, the southern portion of Pangaea, specifically in low-latitude equatorial regions. Fossils like *Eoraptor* and *Herrerasaurus* from Argentina, *Saturnalia* from Brazil, and *Mbiresaurus* from Zimbabwe support this theory. While these early dinosaurs shared defining characteristics, differences suggest millions of years of prior evolution.

Heath highlighted significant fossil record gaps in regions now comprising the Sahara and Amazon, regions he suggests may hold crucial evidence. The equatorial environment of the time was extremely hot and dry, featuring deserts, savannahs, and possibly forested areas prone to wildfires—conditions previously believed inhospitable to dinosaurs. The scarcity of fossils from this period might be due to poor preservation conditions or undiscovered fossil-bearing rocks. The challenging terrain of the Amazon and Sahara also hinders paleontological exploration.

The study posits that dinosaurs evolved from more primitive reptiles following the Permian extinction event around 252 million years ago. Early dinosaurs possessed unique skeletal features including upright posture and specialized hips, facilitating efficient locomotion. Their diverse teeth adapted to varied diets. While transitional fossils remain elusive, *Nyasasaurus* from Tanzania, dating back 240-245 million years ago, may represent the earliest forms.

Initially overshadowed by larger crocodile relatives and other herbivores, dinosaurs’ speed, agility, and adaptability allowed them to eventually dominate terrestrial ecosystems after a mass extinction event around 201 million years ago.

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