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Scientists from Belgium and Portugal have discovered a new species of a herbivorous dinosaur. It’s about the Carioccus bocageian iguanodon from the early chalk period, some 125 million years ago. A skull was found in Portugal of the species.
“We could even see the print of the brain halves and the hearing system,” says Filippo Bertozzo, paleontologist at the Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences that made the discoveries with the Portuguese counterpart.
“We are extremely proud of Carioccus bocagei to be able to propose, “says Bertozzo.” It is the result of a monthly cooperation between our two institutions. “
Already found in 2016
The skull, which, according to the scientists, was in good condition, was already found in 2016 on the beach in west of Portugal. It took until after the Coronapandemie before the investigation into the fossil could start.
For example, it took a lot of time to free up the fossil from sandstone. “Only when that was completely removed, did we realize how exceptional the state of custody was,” says Bertozzo.
Only then did it become clear that it was a new species. “The upper jaw and the cheekbone have completely grown together. We have not seen that in any other iguanodone species,” said Bertozzo. “It’s no coincidence or deviation. This is a really new feature and therefore a new species.”
A strikingly low eyebrow bone is also a special feature, says the scientist. “This probably supported a heavy eyebrow arch, possibly comparable to that of modern eagles,” says Bertozzo. “Such a structure may have played a functional or even visual role.”
God
The species lived about 125 million years ago. At that time, the Iguanodons, the herbivorous dinosaurs with strong bodies and complex teeth, dominated the European territory. “The early chalk period was a real Iguanodonten world,” says Bertozzo. “We already knew species from Belgium, Spain, Great Britain and France, but a species has been named in Portugal. This discovery fills in that gap.”
The name Carioccus bocagei Is not just thought of. Cariacecus refers to a war god that was honored in present -day Portugal. The species name Bogacei is named after José Vicente Barbosa du Bocage, a zoologist from the nineteenth century. He played a major role in the establishment of natural history collections in Portugal.
