A dinosaur the size of a dog, once misclassified, has been revealed as a brand new species and is now going on permanent display at the Natural History Museum in London.
This is the Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae – meaning “mysterious runner” that lived around 150 million years ago, darting between the feet of Jurassic giants like Stegosaurus in what is now the western United States.
Originally thought to be a Nanosaurusscientists have now identified Enigmacursor as a distinct species after a detailed study of its fossil remains. Its long legs would have allowed this small herbivore to quickly escape predators, keeping it one step ahead in a landscape dominated by much larger dinosaurs.
The specimen, unearthed from the Morrison Formationmeasures about one metre long and stands 64cm tall, roughly the height of a dog, but with much larger feet and a tail likely longer than the rest of its body.
The dinosaur is being displayed on the balcony in the museum’s Earth Hallmaking it the first new dinosaur species to go on show at the museum since 2014.
Unlike many of its famous neighbours, Enigmacursor represents the often-overlooked world of small herbivorous dinosaurs.
Professor Susannah Maidment, co-lead author of the research, says this discovery highlights how many small dinosaurs from the Morrison Formation have been historically neglected in favour of larger, more dramatic species. “The generous donation of this rare specimen has had quite unexpected scientific repercussions. By studying its anatomy in detail, we’ve been able to clarify this species’ evolutionary relationships, its taxonomy and the diversity of a previously poorly understood group of small dinosaurs,” she said.
The unveiling of Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae not only adds a new chapter to the museum’s collection but also shines a light on the diversity of the ancient world, encouraging future discoveries of long-ignored species.
