Flathead dinosaur identified that lived on island of dwarfed creatures 70 million years ago

The Transylvanosaurus platycephalus is a flathead reptile from Transylvania. It was found to be 2 metres long, relatively short for a dinosaur. This area of Romania was a tropical archipelago during the Cretaceous Period. Paleontologists believe these dinosaurs were an example of the island rule, which states that giant animals isolated on islands tend to become stunted or restricted in their growth over time while small animals grow more prominent. As a result, the dinosaurs living there were shorter than their counterparts.

Although the process causing these alterations is only partially understood, it may be related to a lack of resources. The sediments of an old riverbed shielded the dinosaur bones, allowing them to last for millions of years.

The researchers found no bone was longer than 12 cm, but even so, they learned an astonishing amount about the diminutive plant-eating dinosaur, which would have stood on two legs and had a strong, robust tail. In addition, the research team claimed that it could see the shape of Transylvanosaurus's brain.




Dinosaur finds have been particularly prolific in the Haţeg Basin. Since the first dinosaur was found in the area in 1900, ten different species have already been identified. However, after a small carnivore and a long-necked plant-eating dinosaur were discovered there in 2010, the Transylvanosaurus platycephalus was the first new dinosaur type to be identified there in ten years.

The study shows that the Transylvanosaurus had a broader skull than other Rhabdodontidae species.

FAQs:

1. What is Transylvania currently known as?
   Transylvania was currently known as Western Romania.
2. Where was the skull of a flat head dinosaur found?
   The skull bones of a flat head dinosaur were found on the riverbank of Haţeg Basin.