Dinosaurs that existed about 65 million years ago actually evolved from their predecessors called Dinosauromorphs. We have been under the impression that Dinosaurs were the only ones. However, the fossils found in New Mexico prove the co-existence of the Dinosauromorphs with the Dinosaurs.
The Dinosauromorphs were actually precursors to the Dinosaurs. Till today paleontologists believed that these creatures were long gone before the dinosaurs. But, research team member Kevin Padian of University of California Berkley says:
Now, the evidence shows that they may have coexisted for 15 or 20 million years or more
The findings prove that evolution to dinosaurs was gradual in nature. These are the stats according to the article in the Science journal. The discovery of fossils in the Hayden quarry of the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation of New Mexico, challenges the idea that dinosaurs quickly out-competed their close relatives.
What were these precursors like?
Well, as seen from the above pictures, they are indeed dinosaur look alike with the four limbs and tails. Even though it seems like these creatures resemble the dinosaurs, they were still different.
Anatomically, these precursors lacked certain features like the hole in the pelvis for the femur. These findings are wonderful and unique.
Perspectives on the discovery:
Paleontologist based out of the university from where I graduated (Montana State University)Jack Horner mentions that new discoveries will make him change his teaching methods.
I’m going to have to revise my lectures concerning the turnover rates of these animals
Yet another University scholar Paul Olsen
from Columbia University agrees that this is a major discovery.
It shows that the Late Triassic was a time of unusually high diversity, something that we didn’t realize at all before.
Therefore, I think this is a great time for the paleontologists. I am sure they will be busy with the new theory related to dinosaurs. A question that still remains unanswered is: why one group of ancient creatures(dinosaurs) existed longer than the other(dinosauromorphs)?
Image Credits: Livescience