New dinosaur discovery in Mexico reshapes understanding of species range

A newly identified duck-billed dinosaur, Coahuilasaurus lipani, was discovered in Mexico, reshaping the understanding of dinosaur species distribution. This dinosaur, named after the region of Coahuila and the Lipani Apache tribe, features a distinctive large snout and tooth-like spikes in its mouth, suggesting it was adapted to consume tough, woody plants in the tropical forests of the late Cretaceous period, approximately 73 million years ago. The partial skull, initially unearthed in the 1980s, was reanalyzed using advanced techniques, leading to its reclassification. Claudia Serrano, the lead author of the study, emphasized the importance of the skull's structure in differentiating species, akin to how a bird's beak can reveal much about its biology. The findings indicate that C. lipani was about 26 feet long, comparable to two sedans, and lived in a warmer climate with higher sea levels. This discovery contributes to a growing body of evidence that suggests many dinosaur species were unique to Mexico, challenging the previously held belief that dinosaurs had extensive ranges. The research indicates that factors such as climate, geographical barriers, and reproductive behaviors may have limited the ranges of these large animals, prompting further investigation into the ecological dynamics of dinosaur populations during the Cretaceous period.