Paleontologists have made a groundbreaking discovery in Wyoming, shedding new light on the origins of dinosaurs. A 230-million-year-old dinosaur fossil, named Ahvaytum bahndooiveche, has been identified as one of the oldest known dinosaurs from the northern hemisphere.
The discovery was made by researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, who analyzed the fossils found in a layer of rock known as the Popo Agie Formation. The team determined that Ahvaytum bahndooiveche lived around 230 million years ago, during a period of immense climatic change known as the Carnian pluvial episode.
The fossil suggests that dinosaurs existed in the northern hemisphere much earlier than previously believed. In fact, it is now recognized as the oldest known dinosaur from Laurasia, which was near the equator on Laurasia during the Triassic period.
According to Dr. Dave Lovelace, a research scientist at the University of Wisconsin Geology Museum, “We have, with these fossils, the oldest equatorial dinosaur in the world — it’s also North America’s oldest dinosaur.” The team found that Ahvaytum bahndooiveche was likely a very early sauropod relative, and its discovery is helping to rewrite our understanding of dinosaur origins.
The research also highlights the importance of indigenous heritage in scientific discovery. The name “Ahvaytum bahndooiveche” broadly translates to “long ago dinosaur” in the Shoshone language, which was chosen by Eastern Shoshone tribal elders and middle school students who partnered with the researchers on the project.
This breakthrough discovery demonstrates the significance of collaborative research and the importance of incorporating indigenous knowledge into scientific endeavors. The findings are set to be published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society and will shed new light on our understanding of dinosaur origins.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/the-oldest-laurasian-dinosaur-new-discovery-rewrites-dinosaur-origin-story