First dinosaurs could have appeared in Brazil, according to a recent study.

The initial dinosaurs might have originated in the Sahara Desert and the Amazon Forest, based on a study in Current Biology. Previous beliefs suggested they first appeared in South Africa.

Summary of the information you should be aware of

1. The study suggests that the initial dinosaurs may have appeared in Brazil and Africa, rather than just in the southern regions of these continents.
2. Researchers utilized computer models to replicate the spread of dinosaurs, taking into account areas where fossils have not been discovered.
3. The initial dinosaurs were tiny, similar in size to a dog or a chicken.

The research findings

Scientists previously thought that the first dinosaurs appeared in the southern regions of Africa and South America, but a new study of fossils from the ancient supercontinent Gondwana suggests a different distribution of dinosaurs.

The oldest dinosaur fossils, dating back around 230 million years, were discovered in southern Brazil, Argentina, and Zimbabwe. Scientists developed a computational model to gain further insights into this discovery.

• The whereabouts of the fossils already found.
• The initial dinosaurs had a strong evolutionary connection.
• Climate and geographical obstacles of the era.
• Areas where fossils have not been discovered but may have been lived in.

The findings indicate that the initial dinosaurs inhabited equatorial areas like the Amazon, the Congo basin, and the Sahara, which provided optimal conditions for their development.

Small dinosaurs such as a chicken

The initial dinosaurs were likely smaller than the well-known Tyrannosaurus Rex. Researchers believe they were about the size of dogs or chickens and inhabited dry, hot regions, contrary to previous assumptions.

Many areas of the world have not been thoroughly excavated by researchers, which could be why fossils have not been discovered there. This suggests that the history of dinosaurs might be more extensive than previously believed.

Dinosaurs may have lived in areas where fossils have not yet been discovered, according to Joel Heath, PhD in Earth Science at UCL.

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