What they really found in Niger
A big buzz over the discovery of a skeleton of an early Sauropod dinosaur in Niger. The finding looks amazing even to my paleontologically-ignorant eyes. It is beautifully intact and well-ordered, as opposed to the mixed jumble of bone fragments that are usually found. It has that lovely aesthetic quality that would cause anyone to go “wow” at such a sight.
Spinophorosaurus nigerensis, holotype skeleton GCP-CV-4229 in situ during excavation in the region of Aderbissinat, Thirozerine Dept., Agadez Region, Republic of Niger.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0006924.g001
Like I said, I am no paleontologist, but I understand that there is some controversy as to what was really unearthed in Aderbissinat. The authors’ reconstruction is below. Click on it to see the alternative one:
Skeletal reconstruction of Spinophorosaurus nigerensis. Dimensions are based on GCP-CV-4229/NMB-1699-R, elements that are not represented are shaded. Scale bar = 1 m. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0006924.g005
Remes, K., Ortega, F., Fierro, I., Joger, U., Kosma, R., Marín Ferrer, J., , ., , ., Ide, O., & Maga, A. (2009). A New Basal Sauropod Dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Niger and the Early Evolution of Sauropoda PLoS ONE, 4 (9) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006924
Indeed – one can clearly see in the site photograph how the ACID BLOOD has eaten away the ground around the bones.
@blueshifter
Indeed.
Nuke it from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.