Bones of a previously unknown dinosaur have been found in the Carpathians

An international team of paleontologists from Romania, Hungary, and Italy has identified a new genus and species of herbivorous duck-billed dinosaur, named Kryptohadros kallaiae. The fossils were discovered in the continental deposits of the Densuș-Chula Formation in the Hațeg Basin, located in the southern Carpathians in Romania. 

This region is widely known in the scientific community for its unique, isolated Cretaceous ecosystems, which were home to unusual “island” animal species.

Researchers managed to unearth a partial skeleton containing parts of the skull, rib fragments, tail vertebrae, and part of a hind limb. According to Dr. Attila Osi of Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), a find of this magnitude is extremely rare for the Hatzeg Basin, where typically only isolated hadrosaurid bones are discovered. Thanks to the well-preserved skull details, paleontologists were able to prove that Kryptohadros kallaiae is a distinct species. For over a century, such remains had been mistakenly attributed to another well-known local dinosaur—Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus.

Analysis has shown that these two species, together with the Italian Tethyshadros insularis, form a distinct evolutionary group called the Telmatosauridae. This family was endemic and evolved in isolation in the island environment of what was then southeastern Europe. Scientists emphasize that this discovery significantly changes our understanding of biodiversity during the Late Cretaceous period, proving the coexistence of at least two closely related genera of duck-billed dinosaurs in the same territory.

 This was reported by the Sci.news portal.

A new species of giant dinosaur has been discovered in Thailand

Remains of a giant dinosaur have been discovered in Argentina.

Dinosaursweren’t exactly like lizards: scientists have revealed what their skin was like.