Dinosaurs are among the most fascinating and diverse groups of animals that ever lived on Earth, with more than 1,000 species described so far.
However, many of them are still poorly known or undiscovered, especially in the southern hemisphere, where fossil records are scarce and fragmentary.
Gonkoken nanoi: a new species of hadrosaur
PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP via Getty Images
Gonkoken nanoi is a new species of dinosaur belonging to the family Hadrosauridae, also known as the duck-billed dinosaurs, as per Phys.org.
These dinosaurs are characterized by their flat and elongated snouts, which resemble the bills of ducks or geese.
They also have rows of teeth that form a grinding surface for chewing tough plant material.
Hadrosaurs were among the most successful and widespread dinosaurs during the Late Cretaceous period, from about 100 to 66 million years ago.
The new species was discovered by a team of researchers from Chile and Germany, who published their findings in the journal Science Advances.
The researchers analyzed fragments of bones and teeth that were collected in 2013 from a site near Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia.
They compared them with other hadrosaur specimens from around the world and concluded that they belong to a previously unknown species.
Gonkoken nanoi is estimated to have weighed up to a metric ton and to have grown up to four meters (13 feet) in height. Its name comes from the Tehuelche language, the native people of Patagonia, and means "similar to a wild duck or a swan".
The name reflects the shape of its snout and its southern location.
The significance: a rare find in the southern hemisphere
The discovery of Gonkoken nanoi is remarkable for several reasons.
First, it is only the fifth species of dinosaur ever found in Chile and the first hadrosaur, as per The Hindu.
Chile has a poor fossil record of dinosaurs, mainly due to its mountainous terrain and volcanic activity that have erased or buried most of the ancient sediments.
Most of the dinosaur fossils found in Chile belong to marine reptiles or birds.
Second, it is one of the few hadrosaurs known from the southern hemisphere, and the most southern one ever found.
Most hadrosaurs are known from North America, Asia, and Europe, where they were very diverse and abundant.
Only a handful of hadrosaur fossils have been found in South America, Australia, and Antarctica, and they are usually incomplete or poorly preserved.
Third, it is one of the oldest hadrosaurs known, dating back to about 72 million years ago.
Most hadrosaurs are younger than 70 million years old and belong to more advanced groups that have more specialized features, such as crests or horns on their heads.
Gonkoken nanoi belongs to an ancestral lineage of hadrosaurs that was more primitive and widespread.
The discovery of Gonkoken nanoi sheds new light on the origin and evolution of hadrosaurs, and their distribution across different continents.
It suggested that hadrosaurs originated in North America or Asia, and then migrated to South America via land bridges before more advanced forms evolved, and that hadrosaurs adapted to different environments and climates in the southern hemisphere, where they survived until the end of the Cretaceous period.
Implications for paleontology and conservation
The discovery of Gonkoken nanoi illustrates the importance of exploring new fossil sites and regions for expanding our knowledge of dinosaur diversity and history.
It also demonstrates the potential of Chile as a source of new dinosaur discoveries, despite its challenging geological conditions.
It also highlights the need for more collaboration and support among paleontologists, local communities, and authorities for preserving and studying this unique natural heritage.
