New 240‑million‑year‑old animal species discovered in Tanzania

A team of international researchers has identified a new prehistoric species from Tanzania, dating to roughly 240 million years ago during the Triassic period. The discovery, led by scientists at the University of Bristol, describes a previously unknown animal named *Dinodontosaurus isiyavamanda*. The find was made at one of the world’s most significant fossil sites, providing fresh material for the study of early terrestrial ecosystems.

*Dinodontosaurus isiyavamanda* is a small, herbivorous archosaur that exhibits a mix of primitive and derived features. Its skeletal morphology suggests it occupied a niche distinct from contemporaneous Triassic reptiles, offering a new data point for biostratigraphic correlation. By refining the age of the site where it was uncovered, the species may help recalibrate the timeline of early dinosaur evolution and improve the precision of geological dating in the region.

The research, published by the Bristol-led team, underscores the importance of the Tanzanian fossil record in understanding the early diversification of archosaurs. The new species not only adds to the known diversity of Triassic fauna but also provides a critical marker that could shift prevailing models of dinosaur emergence and the broader evolutionary history of terrestrial vertebrates.