A 2009 research because of the British palaeontologist Mike P. Taylor and colleagues agreed that Nigersaurus was ready to feed Together with the downturned head and neck posture proposed because of the 2007 study, but contested this was the habitual posture of your animal. The research mentioned the "neutral" head and neck posture of recent animals will not automatically correspond for their habitual head posture.
The nickname "dinosaur with 500 teeth" comes from Nigersaurus's exclusive dental battery. Its jaw held about 500 slender teeth, arranged in tightly packed rows, and these teeth ended up frequently changed during its existence.
In spite of its scaled-down dimension, Nigersaurus is notable for its unique adaptations, significantly its specialised teeth and feeding mechanisms, which distinguish it in paleontological research.
These teeth were being also replaceable (like sharks’ teeth), indicating Nigersaurus regularly essential clean teeth as older ones were worn down or missing.
8 ft) in length and weighing about two tons. Despite its modest measurement compared to other sauropods, it gained attention as a consequence of its exceptional anatomy, like a wide muzzle resembling a vacuum cleaner and dental batteries consisting of hundreds of compact, needle-formed teeth arranged in columns.
These teeth and The form of the sauropod's skull possible progressed that will help it munch on plants minimal to the bottom. Grass wasn’t about still through its time, but Nigersaurus probably invested Considerably of its time grazing on a thing like it, sporting down its teeth right away.
The limited knowledge of the genus was the result of bad preservation of its remains, which arises within the sensitive and highly pneumatic development (full of air spaces linked to air sacs) of the skull and skeleton, subsequently triggering disarticulation from the fossils. Several of the cranium fossils ended up so slim that a strong light-weight beam was visible by way of them. Hence, no intact skulls or articulated skeletons are located, and these specimens stand for quite possibly the most finish recognised rebbachisaurid continues to be.[3][one]
Among the most exclusive attributes of Nigersaurus was its rows of very small, peg-like teeth, which have been arranged in a very straight line alongside the entrance of its jaws. These teeth have been continuously changed through the entire dinosaur’s lifestyle, allowing for it to feed continuously on tough vegetation.
On the other hand, as outlined, Nigersaurus had a constant source of new teeth because they ended up replaced if the top rated tooth inside of a column wore out.
Other researchers have disputed this assert, nevertheless. Reports introduced in 2009 and 2013 discovered which the situation in the LSC can not reliably tell us what any given sauropod's normal head posture appeared like. A person needs to build a time equipment now.
But that’s not all for Nigersaurus. Chris took us all to a flat place of purple-colored sandstone wherever he had Situated the higher jaw of a toddler Nigersaurus—a person that will in good shape on top of a silver greenback!
This Nigersaurus was a hatchling, possibly lower than one calendar year from hatching when it died and was fossilized.
This framework was amid the initial dinosaur skulls to be digitally reconstructed using CT scans, offering unparalleled insights into its feeding mechanics.
This intriguing variation showcases the diverse approaches dinosaurs developed to prosper within their environments. The Nigersaurus’s what dinosaur has 500 teeth immediate tooth alternative, taking place each individual 14 days, is usually amazing, environment it besides other sauropods that had slower tooth turnover.