Paleontologists might have discovered a new dinosaur specieseven though its fossil doesnt exist anymore.
Presumably, the dinosaur fauna of North Africa was much more diverse than we previously thought.
In 1914, fossil collector Richard Markgraf excavated the original partial skeleton in Egypts Bahariya Oasis.
An artistic reconstruction of the Tameryraptor markgrafi.© Joshua Knüppe
The only remnants were illustrations of the bones, a few photos, and Stromers notes.
The photographs depicted parts of the fossils skull, spine, and hind legs, and revealed something unexpected.
What we saw in the historical images surprised us all.
Stromer’s drawings of the Tameryraptor markgrafi remains. © Stromer E. Ein Skelett-Rest von Carcharodontosaurus nov. gen. Abh Bayer Akad Wissensch Mathematisch naturwissensch Abt. 1931;9: 1–31
The Egyptian dinosaur fossil depicted there differs significantly from more recent Carcharodontosaurus finds in Morocco.
Stromers original classification was thus incorrect, said Kellermann, who led the study.
We identified a completely different, previously unknown predatory dinosaur species here and named itTameryraptor markgrafi.
A historical photograph of the Tameryraptor markgrafi remains taken before their destruction in 1944. © University Archives Tübingen (photographer unknown)
Markgrafi, on the other hand, pays homage to the fossil collector.
However, its worth questioning how accurately one can define a new species from sketches and old black-and-white images.
The team wouldnt even have been able to confirm the fossils date.
Perhaps future excavations will one day find physical evidence ofT.
markgrafi.For now, this might be yet another happy example ofold photographs leading scientists to a new discovery.
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Now, scientists say it belonged to a Denisovan man.
