Dinosaur That Munched Like a Cow

Now if someone were to have the financial means and bio-engineering know-how to build a Jurassic Park someday, the Nigersaurus taqueti would be the right kind of dinosaur.

Though it was first discovered in the Sahara years ago, thanks to the work of University of Chicago paleontologist Paul Sereno and his team, new details have now emerged about the mellow plant-eater. It was 30 feet long—just enough to impress the kids—and had a lightweight head packed with needle-shaped teeth. The dino apparently mowed for its meals, dragging its mouth along the ground, and probably lacked the muscles to lift its head about its back for very long.

An article covering the work will be published in the December 2007 issue of National Geographic.—Gregory Mone

(Image credit: art by Tyler Keillor and photo by Mike Hettwer / courtesy of Project Exploration, ©2007 National Geographic)