New species of dinosaur found in Amazon

Fossils of a previously unknown species, which is believed to have belonged to the herbivorous sauropod diplodocus family, were found along the banks of a tributary of the Amazon river in the northern state of Maranhao.

It has been named ‘Amazonaurus Maranhensis’, after the state.

"After years of investigation we have now confirmed that the Amazon was a habitat for plant-eating dinosaurs unknown until now," said Ismar de Souza Carvalho, professor of the geology department at the Rio de Janeiro Federal University (UFRJ), who led the research team.

The only previous discovery of dinosaur remains in the region was of a tooth, but it was not seen as enough proof that the giant creatures once lived there.

The latest fossils found by the scientists include large chunks of the spine and neck bones.

Experts had long maintained that paleontological research in the Amazon was pointless since high humidity levels would have destroyed any remains. For years efforts had been concentrated in southern Brazil and Argentina’s Patagonia, where there have been frequent and varied dinosaur fossil finds.

But the findings reveal that the region now covered by the world’s largest rainforest was also part of the world of dinosaurs millions of years ago.

Carvalho said the "search" was inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional accounts in "Lost World". "We were inspired by fiction and a scientific hypothesis that there had been dinosaurs living in the Amazon area," he said.

The UFRJ team began their research in 1991 when the first fragments of fossils were found in Maranhao. "It has taken years to piece together the fragments of fossils - high humidity levels in the jungle had deteriorated them quite a bit. But we now have proof that the lost world of giants spread to this side of the world too," said Carvalho.

He said the remains of other reptiles, including turtles and crocodiles, molluscs and fish were found near the dinosaur bone fossils.

This has given scientists the means to piece together the climatic conditions of the Amazon region inhabited by dinosaurs.

"They must have lived in terrain covered by low trees, not much like the tall rainforest canopy of today’s Amazon jungle," added Carvalho.

The Amazonaurus was smaller than other sauropods, measuring no more than 10 metres in height and weighing about 10 tons. Its most notable and unusual characteristic were petuberances all along the spine, giving it a serrated-looking back. It is the oldest sauropod found in Brazil to date.

The fauna found among the dinosaur remains had similar characteristics to fossils found in Africa from the same time, backing theories that Africa and South America were one continent before the formation of the Atlantic Ocean 110 million years ago.

"We have found proof of prehistoric life and another strong piece of evidence to show that the two continents were once one land mass," said Carvalho.