A new species of herbivorous reptile from the Triassic Period has been identified based on fossils discovered more than six decades ago in East Africa. The creature, named Dinodontosaurus isiyavamanda, represents the first known occurrence of the genus Dinodontosaurus outside South America, according to research led by the University of Bristol.

The fossils were originally uncovered in 1963 in what is now Tanzania and subsequently stored at the Natural History Museum in London. Recent detailed examination of these specimens revealed significant insights about the species’ physical characteristics and ecological role. Estimated to have reached around eight feet in length and weighing several hundred pounds, Dinodontosaurus isiyavamanda belonged to the dicynodont group, a lineage of herbivorous therapsids often characterized by their tusks and beaked jaws.

Despite its imposing appearance and prominent tusks, the animal was herbivorous. Researchers suggest that its tusks were likely used for foraging and digging up plant roots rather than for hunting or defense against predators, though they caution the tusks could have caused damage if the animal felt threatened. Evidence points to Dinodontosaurus isiyavamanda as a dominant herbivore during the Late Triassic, moving in herds across the landscape.

Lead author Hady George emphasized the significance of this discovery in expanding the known geographic distribution of Dinodontosaurus, previously thought to be confined to South America. The findings contribute to a broader understanding of dicynodont diversity and dispersal during the Triassic period, approximately 240 million years ago, a time when terrestrial ecosystems were undergoing significant evolutionary changes following the Permian extinction.

This research sheds new light on the paleoecology of ancient African faunas and highlights the value of reexamining fossil collections that have long been available but incompletely studied.