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C. This dorsal (back) vertebra was CT scanned. The
cross-sections of this scan showed that the bone was built as
thinly as an egg-shell. The big oval opening near the base of
the bone was where an air sac, connected to the dinosaur’s
lung, entered the vertebra.
F. Distal caudal (tail) vertebrae are “biconvex” meaning
that both ends of each bone are convex. The function of a
tail composed of vertebrae like this is unknown but it may
mean that the end of the tail was very flexible. |
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A skeletal map like this requires a lot
of detective work with overlapping skeletons that are incomplete by themselves. Sometimes partial skeletons come in different sizes and need to be "size adjusted." You need to make a composite skeleton
that has all of the bones discovered, but in the
right proportions. You need to enlarge the bones of
juveniles or young adults to match the bones of the
adults. Click here to read more about completing the skeleton of Nigersaurus.
ROLL OVER THE BONES
to find out where they are found on the skeleton.
Text will display underneath the skeleton to describe each bone. |
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B. This middle cervical (neck) vertebra
is hollowed by air pockets and is nearly straight, suggesting
there was very little curvature of the neck when the animal
was resting.
D. This proximal caudal (tail) vertebra has an
unusual spike that links Nigersaurus to a specimen recently
discovered in Spain.
E. These middle caudal (tail) bones are solid and
held the tail off the ground. |
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