Most people imagine fierce dinosaurs when they think about the species that lived millions of years ago. One of the most peculiar dinosaurs known to have existed is not only friendly and vegetarian but also features a unique dental mechanism. Introducing Nigersaurus: a dinosaur that had more than 500 teeth and the most different mouth known to ancient history.
Dinosaur from prehistoric Africa
Nigersaurus lived approximately 115 to 105 million years ago, during the middle Cretaceous Period, in what is now the country of Niger. As far as classification is concerned, Nigersaurus is a member of a suborder of dinosaurs with extremely long necks, called sauropods. This dinosaur had an average length of 30 feet (9 metres) and a weight similar to that of an elephant.
The mystery behind its 500 teeth
Nigersaurus' distinguishing feature was its amazing mouth. With its wide, flat mouth resembling a vacuum tube's hose, this dinosaur was compared to an ancient lawn mower. Note that all teeth in the Nigersaurus were gathered only on its jaw's tip, creating a specialized dental battery that served as a means of non-stop grazing. It is believed that there were more than 500 teeth inside its mouth. At any time, there were dozens of working teeth while hundreds of spare teeth stood behind them. In such a way, the continuous replacement of damaged teeth was guaranteed.
Incredible speed of tooth replacement
Perhaps what made the Nigersaurus a true record-breaker was its incredible speed of replacing its teeth. According to scientists, the animal could replace all its teeth within two weeks. This allowed the dinosaur to deal effectively with the difficult nature of the plants it fed upon. Since it was a grazer and ate ferns and horsetails, which tend to be very abrasive, the quick change in teeth became vital for its survival.
A unique skull
Its skull was also a unique part of this dinosaur's body. It had very thin and light bones. There were even fossils discovered whose thinness allowed light to pass through them. Using modern technologies like computer tomography scans, scientists digitally reconstructed this skull. They found that this unique animal was a very specialized grazer that probably always kept its head tilted down.
Discovery of Nigersaurus in the Sahara Desert
The fossils of Nigersaurus were first discovered in the Sahara Desert region of Niger by palaeontologists. It was named as a dinosaur by researchers, including Paul Sereno, in 1999.
Reasons for Nigersaurus being an exceptional dinosaur
Although Nigersaurus lacked the ferocious nature of huge predators, it is among the most amazing dinosaurs that have ever been found. The conveyor belt-like teeth of this dinosaur along with its vacuum mouth structure and exceptional eating methods make Nigersaurus exceptional. After more than 100 million years of extinction on earth, this fascinating plant-eater dinosaur still attracts many researchers because, unlike some dinosaurs, it was not a predator.
