In a groundbreaking discovery, German paleontologists have identified a new species of predatory dinosaur from the Cretaceous period, named Tameryraptor markgrafi, in northern Africa. This dinosaur, approximately 95 million years old, has a remarkable backstory, as its original fossil was completely destroyed during World War II.
The original fossil, excavated in 1914 by Munich paleontologist Ernst Stromer von Reichenbach in Egypt's Bahariya Oasis, was housed in Munich until it was lost in an Allied air raid in 1944. Recent research led by Maximilian Kellermann and his team has uncovered previously unknown historical photographs of the original skeleton, revealing significant differences from other known species.
Measuring about 10 meters in length, Tameryraptor features symmetrical teeth and a prominent nasal horn, suggesting a diverse predatory dinosaur fauna in northern Africa. This discovery emphasizes the importance of exploring not just geological sites but also historical archives to uncover lost paleontological treasures.
As researchers continue to investigate the Cretaceous predator fauna of the Bahariya Oasis, they hope to recover more fossils to better understand the evolutionary history of these ancient creatures.