London’s Natural History Museum is set to unveil a newly discovered species of dinosaur, Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae, in its Earth Hall on June 26. This speedy two-legged herbivore lived during the Late Jurassic Period, around 145-150 million years ago.
The fossil, named after paleontologists Susannah Maidment and Paul Barrett, is less than complete but provides valuable insights into this lesser-known species. Initial analysis suggests that Enigmacursor was a small dinosaur, measuring just 64 centimeters tall and 180 centimeters long.
Using a combination of existing data and reconstructed elements, the team has defined the fossil as a new species and placed it in an evolutionary tree. The reconstruction is based on similar small dinosaurs like Yandusaurus and Hexinlusaurus.
Enigmacursor’s unique characteristics include its small forearms, which would have been used to grasp food, large feet, and long limbs. According to Maidment, the dinosaur was “probably quite fast by dinosaur standards.” The reconstructed skeleton will be displayed alongside a contemporary, Sophie the Stegosaurus.
Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2485569-small-and-speedy-dinosaur-recognised-as-a-new-species