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In 1914, German paleontologists, under the guidance of Richard Markgraf, discovered the fossils of Tameryraptor markgrafi in the Bahariya Oasis, situated in Egypt’s Western Desert, as reported by SciencePost reported.
Researchers unearthed a colossal horned dinosaur from Egypt called Tameryraptor markgrafi after locating previously lost photographs of fossils, which were destroyed during World War II, The Sun reported.
In 2023, a team from the University of Tübingen in Germany uncovered previously unknown images of the lost fossils in the Huene Archive, as reported by SciencePost. These images, from the 1940s, showcase the fossils in their entirety prior to their destruction and illustrate that they were once on display. Thanks to these unseen images, researchers can at last analyze the features of the dinosaur, which was unattainable following the loss of the original specimens.
The term Tameryraptor markgrafi is inspired by the ancient Egyptian word Ta-Mery, signifying “the promised land,” and pays tribute to Richard Markgraf, the fossil excavator who unveiled the remains, noted by The Scottish Sun mentioned. The inclusion of “raptor” in the name underscores the predatory characteristics of the dinosaur.
Tameryraptor markgrafi roamed the earth approximately 95 million years ago in the area currently recognized as part of Egypt, unveiling a new dimension of North Africa’s prehistoric narrative and indicating a more varied dinosaur ecosystem than previously conceived, as reported by SciencePost.
In 1914, Richard Markgraf and his team of German paleontologists unearthed the fossils of Tameryraptor markgrafi in the Bahariya Oasis, as stated by SciencePost.
The fossils were housed in the Bavarian State Collection of Paleontology and Geology (BSPG) in Germany, where they were meticulously examined and conserved, The Sun reported. However, in 1944, during a World War II air raid, the facility housing the fossils was engulfed by fire, leading to the destruction of the specimens.
For years, scientists were convinced that these fossils had been irretrievably lost, noted SciencePost. The only remnants of the discovery consisted of Dr. Ernst Stromer’s notes, drawings of the bones, and black-and-white photographs of the skeletons. Stromer had originally classified the specimen as part of the Carcharodontosaurus group, known for their formidable size and sharp dentition.
At first, experts believed these fossil remains belonged to a substantial theropod dinosaur known as Carcharodontosaurus. However, subsequent analysis of the images identified distinctions from Carcharodontosaurus, facilitating the recognition of a novel species, Tameryraptor markgrafi.
Upon reviewing the images, several unique features emerged, such as a prominent horn, an altered skull shape, and an enlarged frontal brain. The fossils of Tameryraptor markgrafi exhibit numerous traits not present in other Carcharodontosaurus specimens, including symmetrical teeth, diminutive eyes, and a small rounded horn situated on the bridge of its snout.
“What we observed in the historical images astonished us all,” remarked Maximilian Kellermann, the primary author of the study, according to The Sun. “Stromer’s original classification was therefore incorrect. We identified a distinctly different, previously unknown predatory dinosaur species and named it Tameryraptor markgrafi,” Kellermann stated, as reported by The Sun.
“This research demonstrates that it can prove valuable for paleontologists to explore not just the ground but also historical archives,” noted Oliver Rauhut, another author of the study, according to The Sun.
Tameryraptor markgrafi, measuring around ten meters in length, contrasts with more recent findings of Carcharodontosaurus located in Morocco. This discovery implies that the diversity of predatory dinosaurs in Africa during the Cretaceous period was broader than previously assumed.
SciencePost suggested that several additional species, like Deltadromeus, shared between Egypt and Morocco, could also uncover more distinctive and previously overlooked specimens.
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