A groundbreaking scientific study has revealed that the oldest known ornithischian dinosaur, a Serapod, was discovered in Morocco’s Middle Atlas region, offering crucial insights into the early evolution of this dinosaur group.
The findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal Royal Society Open Science, were the result of a collaborative effort by researchers Susana Maidman, Idriss Warhash, Richard J. Butler, and others.
The study focuses on Serapods, a branch of extinct bird-hipped dinosaurs that were widespread during the Cretaceous period. Fossil evidence indicates that these dinosaurs evolved by the Middle Jurassic, though only one other fossil, a thigh bone from the Callovian period in the United Kingdom, had previously been identified.
The new discovery includes a thigh bone from a Serapod found in Morocco’s Middle Atlas Mountains. Despite being partial, the specimen exhibits key features that link it to bird-hipped dinosaurs, marking it as the oldest of its kind globally.
The research suggests that further sampling in this region could be crucial for understanding the diversity of bird-hipped dinosaurs.
This find adds to Morocco’s growing reputation as a site of significant dinosaur discoveries. In previous years, the country has yielded the world’s oldest ankylosaurus and some of the earliest Stegosaurus fossils, underscoring the importance of continued excavation in the region.
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