Ajnabia (meaning "stranger" or "foreigner") is a genus of lambeosaurinehadrosaur from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) of Morocco. It is the first definitive hadrosaur from Africa, and is thought to be related to European dinosaurs like Arenysaurus.[1] The discovery of Ajnabia came as a surprise to the paleontologists who found it, because Africa was isolated by water from the rest of the world during the Cretaceous, such that hadrosaurs were assumed to have been unable to reach the continent.[2][3] The animal is relatively small; assuming it represents an adult it would be one of the smallest if not the smallest known hadrosaurids.
Ajnabia was recovered from the Late Maastrichtian strata of the phosphate mines at Sidi Chennane, in Khouribga Province, Morocco. Recovered elements include most of the left maxilla and part of the right, and a fragment of the right dentary. The name Ajnabia derives from the Arabic ajnabi, meaning "stranger" or "foreigner", referring to the animal as part of a dinosaur lineage that immigrated to Africa from elsewhere. The type and only species is A. odysseus, referring to the Greek hero and legendary sea voyager Odysseus.[1]
Late Maastrichtian dinosaurs of Morocco, including Ajnabia odysseus, Chenanisaurus barbaricusRestoration of Chenanisaurus hunting on Ajnabia
The holotype specimen, MHNM KHG 222, was recovered from the phosphates of the Ouled Abdoun Basin of north-central Morocco. The phosphates are a nearshore marine environment, dominated by sharks, fish, mosasaurs, and other marine reptiles. Rare dinosaurs are present here, however, including the large abelisaurid Chenanisaurus barbaricus[4] and an unnamed titanosaurian.[1] These dinosaurs would have lived in the very latest Cretaceous (Late Maastrichtian) approximately 1 million years before the K-Pg boundary [1] and the Chicxulub asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs. They therefore provide insights into the diversity of Africa just before the dinosaurs became extinct.
Palaeobiogeographyedit
Phylogenetic analysis suggests that Ajnabia is a member of the Lambeosaurinae, and specifically a member of the Arenysaurini, a clade otherwise known only from Europe. Based on the relationships of Ajnabia to other dinosaurs, and reconstructions of Late Cretaceous continents and seas, it was proposed that dispersal of Lambeosaurinae into North Africa most likely occurred via oceanic dispersal, with hadrosaurs swimming or drifting between Europe and North Africa.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdeLongrich, Nicholas R.; Suberbiola, Xabier Pereda; Pyron, R. Alexander; Jalil, Nour-Eddine (2021). "The first duckbill dinosaur (Hadrosauridae: Lambeosaurinae) from Africa and the role of oceanic dispersal in dinosaur biogeography". Cretaceous Research. 120: 104678. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2020.104678. S2CID 228807024.
^Southworth, Phoebe (November 5, 2020). "Dinosaurs swam across oceans, landmark study reveals" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
^"New fossil discovery suggests dinosaurs traveled across oceans". www.msn.com.
^Longrich, N.R.; Pereda-Suberbiola, X.; Jalil, N.-E.; Khaldoune, F.; Jourani, E. (2017). "An abelisaurid from the latest Cretaceous (late Maastrichtian) of Morocco, North Africa". Cretaceous Research. 76: 40–52. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2017.03.021.
External linksedit
Ajnabia odysseus- the first duckbill dinosaur from Africa- by Nick Longrich
Duckbilled dinosaurs crossed oceans to reach Africa, fossil reveals
ajnabia, meaning, stranger, foreigner, genus, lambeosaurine, hadrosaur, from, late, cretaceous, maastrichtian, morocco, first, definitive, hadrosaur, from, africa, thought, related, european, dinosaurs, like, arenysaurus, discovery, came, surprise, paleontolog. Ajnabia meaning stranger or foreigner is a genus of lambeosaurine hadrosaur from the Late Cretaceous Maastrichtian of Morocco It is the first definitive hadrosaur from Africa and is thought to be related to European dinosaurs like Arenysaurus 1 The discovery of Ajnabia came as a surprise to the paleontologists who found it because Africa was isolated by water from the rest of the world during the Cretaceous such that hadrosaurs were assumed to have been unable to reach the continent 2 3 The animal is relatively small assuming it represents an adult it would be one of the smallest if not the smallest known hadrosaurids AjnabiaTemporal range Late Maastrichtian 68 66 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Maxilla of Ajnabia odysseus from the late Maastrichtian of MoroccoScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClade DinosauriaClade OrnithischiaClade OrnithopodaFamily HadrosauridaeSubfamily LambeosaurinaeTribe ArenysauriniGenus AjnabiaLongrich et al 2021Type species Ajnabia odysseusLongrich et al 2021 Contents 1 Discovery and naming 2 Palaeoecology 2 1 Palaeobiogeography 3 References 4 External linksDiscovery and naming edit nbsp Life restorationAjnabia was recovered from the Late Maastrichtian strata of the phosphate mines at Sidi Chennane in Khouribga Province Morocco Recovered elements include most of the left maxilla and part of the right and a fragment of the right dentary The name Ajnabia derives from the Arabic ajnabi meaning stranger or foreigner referring to the animal as part of a dinosaur lineage that immigrated to Africa from elsewhere The type and only species is A odysseus referring to the Greek hero and legendary sea voyager Odysseus 1 Arenysaurini ArenysaurusPararhabdodonKoutalisaurusBasturs lambeosaurineCanardiaAdynomosaurusSerrat del Rostiar lambeosaurineBlasisaurusAjnabiaPalaeoecology edit nbsp Late Maastrichtian dinosaurs of Morocco including Ajnabia odysseus Chenanisaurus barbaricus nbsp Restoration of Chenanisaurus hunting on AjnabiaThe holotype specimen MHNM KHG 222 was recovered from the phosphates of the Ouled Abdoun Basin of north central Morocco The phosphates are a nearshore marine environment dominated by sharks fish mosasaurs and other marine reptiles Rare dinosaurs are present here however including the large abelisaurid Chenanisaurus barbaricus 4 and an unnamed titanosaurian 1 These dinosaurs would have lived in the very latest Cretaceous Late Maastrichtian approximately 1 million years before the K Pg boundary 1 and the Chicxulub asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs They therefore provide insights into the diversity of Africa just before the dinosaurs became extinct Palaeobiogeography edit Phylogenetic analysis suggests that Ajnabia is a member of the Lambeosaurinae and specifically a member of the Arenysaurini a clade otherwise known only from Europe Based on the relationships of Ajnabia to other dinosaurs and reconstructions of Late Cretaceous continents and seas it was proposed that dispersal of Lambeosaurinae into North Africa most likely occurred via oceanic dispersal with hadrosaurs swimming or drifting between Europe and North Africa 1 References edit a b c d e Longrich Nicholas R Suberbiola Xabier Pereda Pyron R Alexander Jalil Nour Eddine 2021 The first duckbill dinosaur Hadrosauridae Lambeosaurinae from Africa and the role of oceanic dispersal in dinosaur biogeography Cretaceous Research 120 104678 doi 10 1016 j cretres 2020 104678 S2CID 228807024 Southworth Phoebe November 5 2020 Dinosaurs swam across oceans landmark study reveals via www telegraph co uk New fossil discovery suggests dinosaurs traveled across oceans www msn com Longrich N R Pereda Suberbiola X Jalil N E Khaldoune F Jourani E 2017 An abelisaurid from the latest Cretaceous late Maastrichtian of Morocco North Africa Cretaceous Research 76 40 52 doi 10 1016 j cretres 2017 03 021 External links editAjnabia odysseus the first duckbill dinosaur from Africa by Nick LongrichDuckbilled dinosaurs crossed oceans to reach Africa fossil reveals Portals nbsp Dinosaurs nbsp Cretaceous nbsp Morocco nbsp This article related to ornithopod dinosaurs is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ajnabia amp oldid 1182595343, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
