MumbaiScientists have discovered a new species of long-necked dinosaur in western India that possessed a unique, horn-like tail crest.
The dinosaur, named Ceratocaudia antiqua, was identified by a team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) and Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences following excavations in the Kaladongar Formation of the Kachchh Basin.
Furthermore, its tail vertebrae show a rare transition from flat-ended joints to "ball-and-socket" joints near the tip, a feature usually reserved for much later dinosaur species.
The name Ceratocaudia antiqua reflects these physical and historical traits.
Before this discovery, the Jurassic record of such dinosaurs in India was incredibly sparse.
Mumbai
Scientists have discovered a new species of long-necked dinosaur in western India that possessed a unique, horn-like tail crest. The dinosaur, named Ceratocaudia antiqua, was identified by a team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) and Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences following excavations in the Kaladongar Formation of the Kachchh Basin. Living roughly 170 to 180 million years ago during the Jurassic period, this diminutive giant reaches only about seven meters in length, significantly smaller than its more famous 20-meter-long relatives like Brachiosaurus.
The team excavated a partial skeleton near the village of Amrapar in the Kutch district of Gujarat. Using 3D laser scanning and CT technology, the team reconstructed the animal’s anatomy, revealing a creature that likely used its tail as a deterrent against predators. Despite its small stature, bone analysis suggests this specific individual was not a growing youngster but a senior citizen of the dinosaur world. The fossils showed signs of bone remodelling and even a form of ancient arthritis in its leg, suggesting it had reached a very advanced age.
Ceratocaudia is distinguished by several physical traits that set it apart from its closest relatives. The most striking feature is a curved, horn-like crest atop its front tailbones. It also possessed a unique notch on its neck vertebrae and specific shapes in its lower leg bones, the tibia and fibula, which have not been seen in other sauropods. Furthermore, its tail vertebrae show a rare transition from flat-ended joints to "ball-and-socket" joints near the tip, a feature usually reserved for much later dinosaur species.
The name Ceratocaudia antiqua reflects these physical and historical traits. The genus name is derived from the Greek words ‘cerato’ (meaning horn) and ‘caud’ (meaning tail), referring to the unique spike on its vertebrae. The species name, ‘antiqua’, is Latin for "old" or "ancient," highlighting that this is one of the earliest known macronarian dinosaurs, a group of long-necked giants characterised by their large, boxy skulls and wide nostrils.
This find is a major piece of the evolutionary puzzle for palaeontologists. It suggests that this successful group of dinosaurs had already spread across the globe much earlier than previously thought. Before this discovery, the Jurassic record of such dinosaurs in India was incredibly sparse. Ceratocaudia now stands as the earliest diagnosable member of its lineage in India and one of the oldest in the world, proving that even in the age of giants, small and unique species were flourishing.
