New Mini-Sauropod Dinosaur Discovered in Zimbabwe May Have Been Bipedal

A newly discovered sauropodomorph dinosaur named Musango matusadonaensis lived approximately 210 million years ago near Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe, according to paleontologists. Discovered on the Zimbabwean shores of the manmade reservoir, the fossil sheds new light on the diversity of Triassic and Jurassic ecosystems in southern Africa, as detailed in a paper published in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.

Unearthing Musango Matusadonaensis Near Lake Kariba

The fossil remains of Musango matusadonaensis were recovered on the Zimbabwean side of Lake Kariba, a reservoir created by the construction of the Kariba Dam across the Zambezi River during the late 1950s. Unearthed initially in 2018, the specimen represents a more evolved and larger sauropodomorph than its earlier relatives. According to analysis of its leg bones by researchers, the poor creature died young at about 8 years of age. Even as an immature animal, it reached roughly 4.5 meters in length—comparable to the size of a Honda Civic—though its dainty build meant it likely weighed between 140 and 300 kilograms, roughly the weight of a pig.

Revisiting the Dawn of African Dinosauria

The discovery marks the fifth dinosaur find in Zimbabwe and challenges long-held assumptions about prehistoric life in the region. Paul Barrett of the University of the Witwatersrand, alongside Darlington Munyikwa of the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe and their colleagues, described the find in their new paper. Until recently, researchers assumed that dinosaurs living across southern Africa were largely uniform due to a sparse fossil record. However, these newer finds demonstrate that the region of the supercontinent Gondwana actually hosted a series of distinct, smaller ecosystems.

Excavations of Musango matusadonaensis yielded vertebrae, ribs, various leg bones, feet, and both front and rear pelvic bones. While the missing skull prevents absolute certainty regarding its diet, researchers assume it was a plant-eater, functioning as a herbivore or omnivore. Whether these early giants walked on two legs or four remains a hypothesis, derived from the inferred postures of close relatives through phylogenetic analysis.

Comparing Zimbabwe’s Early Sauropodomorphs

Musango shares a close evolutionary relationship with another Zimbabwean sauropodomorph, Musankwa sanyatiensis, with the research team deducing the two are sister taxa. While Musango is known from a robust collection of skeletal elements, Musankwa is known from only a partial hind leg.

The timeline of Zimbabwean paleontology stretches back to 1969—when the country was known as Rhodesia—with the discovery of Syntarsus rhodesiensis, a slim, fleet carnivore. That find was followed in 1972 by Vulcanodon karibaensis, the earliest offshoot from the sauropod tree, also found near Lake Kariba. Two additional finds, Mbiresaurus raathi and Musankwa sanyatiensis, emerged in quick succession this millennium before the addition of Musango.

Frequently Asked Questions About Musango Matusadonaensis

What does the name Musango matusadonaensis mean?

According to the describing research team, Musango is a ChiShona word for “living in the bush,” and matusadonaensis is derived from Matusadona National Park near the discovery site.

How big was Musango matusadonaensis?

Paleontologists estimate the juvenile specimen was about 4.5 meters long—the length of a Honda Civic—and weighed between 140 and 300 kilograms.

What did Musango matusadonaensis eat?

Because the skull was missing from the fossil site, researchers rely on comparative anatomy to assume it was a plant-eater, functioning either as an herbivore or an omnivore.