Scientists may have solved the mystery of dinosaurs' origins

A groundbreaking study published in Current Biology challenges long-held beliefs about the origins of dinosaurs, suggesting they first emerged in the low-latitude regions of Gondwana rather than the mid-latitudes of South America and Africa.

Researchers from University College London and the Natural History Museum in London analyzed fossil data, evolutionary trees, and ancient geographical conditions using advanced biogeographic modeling. Their findings indicate that dinosaurs likely originated in the paleotropics—regions that today correspond to the Amazon rainforest, the Congo Basin, and parts of the Sahara Desert.

Addressing Gaps in the Fossil Record

The study highlights how the under-sampling of fossils in low-paleolatitude regions has obscured the true origins of dinosaurs. Previous assumptions were largely based on fossils from Argentina, Brazil, and Zimbabwe, which date back around 230 million years. However, the diversity of these fossils suggests that dinosaurs had already been evolving for millions of years before that.


To account for this gap, the research team incorporated spatiotemporal sampling heterogeneity into their models—allowing them to identify previously overlooked patterns in early dinosaur distribution.

New Insights into Dinosaur Evolution

One of the most significant findings suggests that dinosaurs' closest relatives, the silesaurids, might have been early ornithischians—one of the three major groups of dinosaurs. This new classification could help bridge a major missing link in dinosaur evolution.

Additionally, the study reveals that early dinosaurs thrived in hot and arid environments, which may explain why their fossils have been harder to find in modern-day tropical regions.

Implications for Future Research

Despite these compelling findings, no fossils from these early dinosaurs have been discovered in the Amazon or central Africa. The researchers argue that limited accessibility and lack of focused excavation efforts in these areas might be the reason.

“We may be missing key fossil evidence simply because the regions where these dinosaurs first evolved are some of the least-explored in the world today,” said lead author Joel Heath from University College London.

The study calls for increased paleontological expeditions in these under-explored regions to further refine our understanding of dinosaur origins.