A

acacia–thorn trees of a number of varieties

B

baobob–tree with fat fleshy trunk, native to the Sahel and southern Sahara

bone map–map of position, or configuration of bones in the ground

C

carnivore –meat eating animal

carrying capacity–maximum weight that can be carried

Cretaceous Period–last period in the Mesozoic era; time period during which dinosaurs became extinct.

cram-cram–low scattered grass which marks the southern end of the of the "real desert" and the beginning of the Sahel

D

dehydrate–to remove water

desert melon–small inedible gourd, which if eaten, will induce vomiting.

E

erg (Arabic)–vast sea of huge rolling sand dunes, devoid of vegetation, usually hundreds of miles wide

excavate–dig up, or unearth

F

fauna–animals, especially of a particular region

femur–thigh bone

fennec–small, nocturnal desert fox. A fennec's exceptionally large ears help disperse heat and give it acute hearing.

fibula–one of two shin bones; the other is the tibia

flora–plants, vegetation

fossil–remains of animals or plants that have been preserved over millions of years

geographic map–shows you the location of cities, roads, sand dunes, and mountains

G

geologic map–shows you the age of the rocks (mammal era, dinosaur era, or more ancient) and under what conditions the rocks formed (on land, in the sea, or in a volcano)

Gondwana–southern portion of Pangaea which included present day continents of Africa, Australia, South America, and Antarctica

H

hammada (Arabic)–stony desert plain

harmattan–cold, dry Northeastern wind, which brings very dusty conditions to the Sahara during October through February

hooded vulture–this bird is one of four types of vultures. The hooded type is often found near oases in the southern Sahara

J

jobar — the Touareg name for the bones of the new dinosaur

Jobaria tiguidensis — the scientific name for a new species of 130-million-year —old sauropod dinosaur discovered in Niger in 1997.

L

Laurasia–northern portion of Pangaea, which consisted of the present day continents of Eurasia (Europe and Asia) North America

M

manus–hand

marine rocks–rocks formed in the ocean

Mesozoic Era–geologic time during which dinosaurs lived; made up of the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous Periods.

metacarpals–bones of the hand

metatarsals–bones of the foot.

O

oasis–fertile, or green spot in the desert

P

piste (French)–desert track; it is often the only "road" across large tracts of land

paleontology–study of ancient forms of life; a paleontologist usually has both geological and biological training

Pangaea–an ancient supercontinent composed of all the major continents we know today

pelvic girdle, pelvis–hip bones

pes–foot

petrified–literally "turned to stone." Petrification is the process by which organic material turns to stone

petroglyphs – prehistoric stone carvings

plate tectonics–technical term that geologists use to describe the study of the movement of plates under the earth's crust. Most plates are composed of two parts: ocean floor and continental crust

prospect–to explore or search

proposal–project or plan put forth for consideration

R

radius–one of two forearm bones; the other is the ulna

rehydrate–literally, "to add water again." Food that has been dehydrated needs to be rehydrated (allowed to absorb water) before you can cook with it.

rift–break apart

rock section–a clean surface exposing a rock layer

S

Sahara (Arabic) - "desert" or "empty area"

Sahel–dry vegetation area marked by scattered grasses and low thorn trees

sand fish–a legless lizard (skink) which literally "swims" through the sand to hide from predators and keep cool during the day

Saurischian dinosaurs–one of the two orders of dinosaurs; commonly called "lizard-hipped" dinosaurs because of the resemblance of the hipbone to those of lizards

sauropods–group of long-necked, saurischian("lizard-hipped"), plant- eating dinosaurs. Largest land animals ever to have lived. Commonly called "brotonsaurs" or "long-necks."

scapula–shoulder blade

T

tarsals–ankle bones

terrestrial rocks–rocks formed on land

theropod–carnivorous, bipedal dinosaur

tibia–one of two shin bones, the other is the fibula

tifnar–written form of the language of the Touareg people

tomacheck–spoken language of the Touareg people

topographic map–a map that records the changing elevation (height) of a surface.

Triassic Period–first period of the Mesozoic era. Dinosaurs began to evolve during this period.

U

ulna–one of two forearm bones; the other is the radius

V

vertebrae, vertebral column–backbone, spine

volcanic rocks–rocks formed by volcanoes