The dinosaur, estimated to be over 230 million years old, is among the oldest and most complete fossils of its kind ever found.
In the aftermath of the severe flooding that ravaged Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil’s southernmost state, a remarkable discovery was made.
Between late April and early May, as the rain subsided and floodwaters receded, paleontologists from the Federal University of Santa Maria’s Support Center for Paleontological Research (Cappa) uncovered a near-complete fossil of a carnivorous dinosaur belonging to the Herrerasauridae family.
The dinosaur, estimated to be over 230 million years old, is among the oldest and most complete fossils of its kind ever found.
Led by paleontologist Rodrigo Temp Müller, the team embarked on an expedition to two fossil sites in mid-May, racing against time to rescue skeletal remains before erosion could damage them.
Their persistence paid off at Sítio Predebon, in the Quarta Colônia region, where they unearthed the remains. According to Mr. Müller, the discovery is exceptional, not only because of its age but also due to the completeness of the fossil, which is a rarity in the Herrerasauridae record.