In the Sahara Desert, approximately 110 million years ago, lived a dinosaur with one of the most unique dental structures in history. This was the Nigersaurus taqueti , a sauropod measuring more than 9 metres in length whose light skull and wide mouth made it an example of evolutionary adaptation.
A dinosaur with 500 teeth
Nigersaurus is renowned for its ability to rapidly replace teeth . Its mouth, lined with rows of tiny, replaceable teeth, helped it consume large amounts of low-lying vegetation. A study led by paleontologist Paul Sereno of the University of Chicago managed to digitally reconstruct its fossil skull using CT scans, revealing the complex arrangement of its teeth.
Its broad, straight-edged snout, similar to that of some modern herbivores, suggests that it specialized in grazing on ferns and other low-growing plants. This adaptation set it apart from other long-necked sauropods, which tended to feed on tall vegetation.
Nigersaurus did not live alone. Its environment was a landscape of wide rivers and lush vegetation where it coexisted with other dinosaurs, such as the theropod Suchomimus and the herbivores Ouranosaurus and Lurdusaurus . It also shared territory with the Supercroc , a gigantic prehistoric crocodile more than 10 meters long.
The bone structure of Nigersaurus was surprisingly light.
One of the most striking aspects of this dinosaur is its bone structure. Its vertebrae contained air-filled cavities, which significantly reduced its weight without compromising its strength . This feature, combined with its thin skull, made it an agile sauropod in its swampy habitat.
Analysis of the inner ear of Nigersaurus, contained in the aforementioned study, suggests that it kept its snout permanently tilted towards the ground, which supports the hypothesis that it had a diet based on low vegetation. In addition, its small brain and poorly developed olfactory bulbs indicate that the sense of smell was not a priority for its survival.
Despite the passage of time, the discovery and study of Nigersaurus has transformed our understanding of sauropod diversity and feeding strategies. With its unconventional appearance, this 500-toothed dinosaur demonstrates the ability of evolution to adapt species to specific ecological niches, thus challenging traditional conceptions of feeding in herbivorous dinosaurs.
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Source and photos: Paul Sereno | University of Chicago
