New Dinosaur Species Discovered
Sopika Ramesh
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Perijasaurus Lapaz
A new lone trunk vertebra discovered in northeastern Colombia has led to the description of a new species of moderate sauropod dinosaur.
While paleontologists first discovered the bone back in the 1940s, an ongoing conflict between the Colombian government and members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia prevented further study. However, this conflict was resolved with a peace accord in 2016 which allowed further discovery. As such, the new name of the sauropod reflects the discovery's calm beginnings: Perijasaurus Lapaz. Perijasaurus Lapaz refers to both the hilly terrain of the region, as well as being the Spanish word for "peace."
Scientists assert that the Perijasaurus, which could reach a length of 39 feet, existed in the area around 175 million years ago. The species resembles other, smaller sauropod fossils discovered in southern South America, northern Africa, India, and Europe. Discoveries like this spectacular dinosaur which was found in northern South America are extremely rare.
References
Lazaro, E. de. (2022, August 11). New Species of Long-Necked Dinosaur Identified in Colombia
Sci.News. Sci.News: Breaking Science News. https://www.sci.news/paleontology/perijasaurus-lapaz-11085.html
Pskhun. (2022, September 24). Species New to Science: [Paleontology • 2022] Perijasaurus
lapaz • A Sauropod from the Lower Jurassic La Quinta formation (Dept. Cesar,
Colombia) and the initial Diversification of Eusauropods at low Latitudes. Species New to Science. https://novataxa.blogspot.com/2022/09/perijasaurus.html
Peace accord in Colombia leads to discovery of new dinosaur species. (n.d.). Washington Post.
Retrieved October 18, 2022, from
https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2022/10/01/dinosaur-discovery-colombian-pea
ce/
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