A team of archaeologists from the Indian Institute of Technology and the Geological Survey of India has made a groundbreaking discovery in the Thar Desert. They have unearthed the first ever remains of a dicraeosaurid sauropod in India. Dicraeosaurids were a group of dinosaurs known for their long necks and vegetation-based diet. The fossil, a partial dorsal vertebra, was found near the city of Jaisalmer in the state of Rajasthan. It has been dated to approximately 167 million years ago, making it the oldest dicraeosaurid fossil in the world.

The research team, in their paper published in Scientific Reports, named the new species Tharosaurus indicus. The fossil provides valuable insights into the evolution and diversity of dinosaurs during the Middle Jurassic period. The researchers noted that the Thar Desert, which was a shoreline along the Tethys Ocean during the Mesozoic Era, likely played a significant role in the emergence and radiation of neosauropods.

Dicraeosaurids are part of a larger group called diplodocoids, characterized by their long bodies and necks and spikes on the backs of their necks. T. indicus exhibits some distinct features, including a long depression on the side of its neck bones and neural spines that suggest the presence of uniquely facing spikes. The frontal vertebra surface near its tail bone resembles a heart shape.

The discovery of Tharosaurus indicus opens up possibilities for more significant finds in the region and highlights the need for further exploration of India’s dinosaur fossils. The researchers believe that the Thar Desert and surrounding areas likely played a vital role in the development of various vertebrate groups. However, limited resources and research in India have hindered a comprehensive understanding of the country’s dinosaur heritage.

This groundbreaking discovery underscores the importance of preserving and studying fossils to unravel the mysteries of prehistoric life and advance our knowledge of Earth’s history.