New Brazilian Sauropod Fossil Traces European Origins of South American Dinosaurs
Paleontologists in northeastern Brazil describe a 120-million-year-old sauropod, Dasosaurus tocantinensis, from the Itapecuru Formation. The partial skeleton reveals unique features and suggests the species is closely related to European dinosaurs, implying a migration route from Europe to South America via northern Africa during the Early Cretaceous. This finding challenges views of South America as isolated and expands understanding of Early Cretaceous sauropod diversity and intercontinental connections within Gondwana and Europe.