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If you’ve got burning questions about Nigersaurus,
start here! The following frequently asked questions were
generated and answered by the Nigersaurus Delegates during
the research portion of the delegation trip to Washington,
D.C.
Hear answers to some of these questions in the feature Q & A with Paul Sereno.
How big was Nigersaurus?
Nigersaurus was about 30 feet long from head to tail and weighed four tons (8,000 pounds).
How old was Nigersaurus?
Nigersaurus lived during the Cretaceous period, 110 million years ago.
What did Nigersaurus eat?
Nigersaurus was an herbivore, which means it only ate plants. It mainly feasted on ferns, horsetails, and other plants that grew close to the ground.
Did Nigersaurus lay eggs or give live birth?
Fossil eggshells have been discovered for other sauropods species and they suggest that most sauropods laid eggs. Scientists think it was the same with Nigersaurus.
How was Nigersaurus different from other sauropods?
The bones of Nigersaurus had a very delicate structure compared to other sauropods; the bones in its skull were so thin that light could shine through the fossils, and the vertebrae (backbones) were filled with air pockets. Other characteristics that make Nigersaurus unique are its rapid tooth replacement (once every month), its jaw structure with its teeth lined up flat at the front of the mouth (instead of a semicircular shape like the human jaw), and the position in which it carried its head: directly facing the ground.
What was the behavior of Nigersaurus like?
Although much of the behavior of Nigersaurus remains a mystery, it is believed that it spent the majority of its time eating.
What type of environment did Nigersaurus live in?
Although the fossils of Nigersaurus were found in the desert, the environment that Nigersaurus lived in 110 million years ago was nothing like the harsh conditions of the Sahara today. When Nigersaurus lived, the land was a freshwater river environment, with river systems big enough to be home to the 40-foot crocodilian, Sarcosuchus “SuperCroc”—which might occasionally have snacked on Nigersaurus for lunch.
Did Nigersaurus only live in Africa?
The only examples of Nigersaurus to date have been found in Africa, but there is a very closely related species of dinosaur that was found in Spain that has not yet been formally announced to the public.
Did scientists only find one fossil of Nigersaurus?
No. Many partial skeletons were discovered, and between them all, scientists have about 80% of a complete skeleton.
Why is it important to learn about dinosaurs?
Dinosaurs have a story to tell. The Earth has encountered major extinctions throughout its history. Learning new information as discoveries are made about dinosaurs helps us understand the history of our Earth and the living things that once were present. We can better understand the changes in natural diversity caused by previous physical changes of the planet by understanding what has happened in the past.
If no one has ever seen a living dinosaur, how was the flesh model of Nigersaurus created?
Paleontological Reconstruction Specialist Tyler Keillor looked at fossilized dinosaur skin impressions and living reptile skin to construct what the scale pattern of Nigersaurus may have looked like. He used large scales around the bony areas of the skull, and smaller scales around the eyes and mouth to accommodate the flexibility needs of those particular areas. A more durable, leathery looking skin was used around the mouth, as it is seen in modern reptiles, for feeding purposes. The coloring of the Nigersaurus flesh model was inspired by a modern lizard.
What was the cost of preparing Nigersaurus for display?
Approximately $300,000!
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