Daily Current Affairs : 21-September-2023
In a remarkable scientific breakthrough, the Geological Survey of India has unearthed the oldest fossils of a plant-eating dinosaur in the Thar desert, near the Jaisalmer Basin in Rajasthan. This discovery has unveiled a new chapter in our understanding of prehistoric life, shedding light on the ancient inhabitants of the Indian subcontinent.
The Remarkable Find
- The fossils belong to a Sauropod dinosaur, a group famously known for their long necks, similar to the herbivores seen in Jurassic Park.
- Specifically, these fossils are from the family Dicraeosauridae and the superfamily Diplodocoidea, representing a unique lineage within the sauropod family.
- Importantly, these fossils mark the first discovery of Dicraeosaurid sauropods in India.
Tharosaurus Indicus: A New Name in Paleontology
- The scientists christened the dinosaur as “Tharosaurus indicus,” drawing inspiration from the Thar desert for its location, the Greek term “sauros” for lizard, and “indicus” to highlight its Indian origin.
- Remarkably, these fossils date back a staggering 167 million years, making them the oldest known Diplodocoid fossils globally.
The Uniqueness of Dicraeosaurid Sauropods
- Dicraeosaurid sauropods, to which Tharosaurus belongs, set themselves apart with smaller sizes, shorter necks, and tails compared to their long-necked sauropod counterparts.
- Their discovery challenges our existing knowledge of sauropod diversity during the Jurassic period.
A Glimpse into Sauropod History
- Sauropods first emerged around 200 million years ago during the Jurassic period, becoming one of the most dominant dinosaur clades.
- They persisted until the late Cretaceous period when dinosaurs faced extinction.
- India’s fossil record includes sauropods from the Early Jurassic and Late Cretaceous periods, but Middle to Late Jurassic fossils were rare, dating back approximately 160-180 million years.
India’s Unique Role in Sauropod Evolution
- India has yielded primitive sauropods like Kotasaurus and Barapasaurus from the Early Jurassic period in the Kota Formation of Telangana.
- In 2006, Camarasaurus supremus, a Middle Jurassic sauropod, was found in Gujarat’s Kutch basin, making it the oldest of its kind at that time.
- These findings suggest that India played a crucial role in the early evolutionary history of sauropod dinosaurs.
India: The Site of Diplodocoid Dinosaur Radiation
- About 167 million years ago, India was part of the Gondwanaland supercontinent along with Africa, South America, Madagascar, and Antarctica.
- The discovery of Tharosaurus indicus raises the possibility that Diplodocoid sauropods may have originated in India during the Middle Jurassic period.
- Land connections with neighboring continents would have allowed these dinosaurs to migrate to Madagascar, Africa, and South America, eventually reaching North America and beyond.
- Supporting this theory, diplodocoid fossils found in other continents come from a younger geological timeframe.
- Additionally, early Jurassic sauropod fossils like Kotasaurus and Barapasaurus provide further evidence of India’s significance in sauropod evolution.
Important Points:
- Oldest plant-eating dinosaur fossils discovered in the Thar desert near the Jaisalmer Basin, Rajasthan, by the Geological Survey of India.
- Fossils belong to a Sauropod dinosaur, specifically from the family Dicraeosauridae and superfamily Diplodocoidea.
- First-ever discovery of Dicraeosaurid sauropods in India.
- Named the dinosaur “Tharosaurus indicus” due to its location, Greek term “sauros” (lizard), and Indian origin.
- These fossils are an astonishing 167 million years old, making them the oldest Diplodocoid fossils in the world.
- Dicraeosaurid sauropods were smaller with shorter necks and tails compared to other sauropods.
- Sauropods emerged during the Jurassic period, around 200 million years ago, and went extinct around 65 million years ago.
- India’s fossil record includes sauropods from the Early Jurassic and Late Cretaceous but lacks Middle to Late Jurassic fossils.
- India has also yielded primitive sauropods like Kotasaurus and Barapasaurus from the Early Jurassic period.
- In 2006, Camarasaurus supremus, a Middle Jurassic sauropod, was found in Gujarat’s Kutch basin, making it the oldest of its kind at the time.
- India may have been a crucial site for the early evolution of sauropod dinosaurs.
- Tharosaurus indicus suggests that Diplodocoid sauropods might have originated in India during the Middle Jurassic period.
- Diplodocoid sauropods could have migrated from India to Madagascar, Africa, and South America through land connections.
- Diplodocoid fossils in other continents are from a younger geological interval.
- Early Jurassic sauropod fossils like Kotasaurus and Barapasaurus further support India’s significance in sauropod evolution.
Why In News
The Geological Survey of India has made a groundbreaking discovery in the Thar desert near the Jaisalmer Basin, Rajasthan, unearthing the oldest fossils of a plant-eating dinosaur. This remarkable find sheds new light on the prehistoric world and offers valuable insights into the ancient ecosystems that once thrived in this region.
MCQs about Tharosaurus Indicus
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What is the significance of the Tharosaurus indicus discovery in the Thar desert, Rajasthan?
A. It is the youngest known Diplodocoid fossil.
B. It is the first discovery of a carnivorous dinosaur in India.
C. It is the oldest known Diplodocoid fossil in the world.
D. It is the largest sauropod fossil ever found.
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Which dinosaur family do the Tharosaurus indicus fossils belong to?
A. Tyrannosauridae
B. Dicraeosauridae
C. Velociraptoridae
D. Stegosauridae
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What distinguishes Dicraeosaurid sauropods from other sauropods?
A. They had longer necks.
B. They were smaller and had shorter necks and tails.
C. They were all carnivorous.
D. They lived during the Late Cretaceous period.
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Why is India considered significant in the early evolutionary history of sauropod dinosaurs?
A. India has the largest collection of sauropod fossils.
B. India was home to the largest sauropod species.
C. India’s fossils suggest sauropods originated there during the Late Cretaceous.
D. India’s fossils indicate it was a vital place for early sauropod evolution and migration.
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