Dinosaur fossils were recently discovered in New Mexico. These fossils are helping scientists understand the early development of these ancient creatures. These fossils were identified as the Tawa Hallae a 6 to 12 foot meat eater. Dinosaurs were developed over 230 million years ago, the Tawa Hallae skeleton is dated back from over 213 million years ago. According to Sterling J. Nesbitt the research leader from the University of Texas at Austin. Nesbitt explained "discovering the Tawa fossils opened up the door to understanding the evolution, the relationship, how they spread across the globe, and insights into their evolutionary characteristics."
The new discovery of the Tawa fossils changes our understanding of the relationships of early dinosaurs. These fossils are the first carnivores remains found and gives insight into the evolution of the first carnivorous dinosaur. There were about five to seven skeletons. The Tawa dinosaur contains many different characteristics of several lineages that will help us understand the evolution of different dinosaurs. The Tawa dinosaur was developed on the super continent Pangea, which allowed these dinosaurs to travel from region to region before Pangea broke off and broke apart to the current continent.
Nesbitt said that this reinforces the idea that dinosaurs originated in what is now known as South America and then relocated to different regions. T. Hallae is known as an early form of theropod, which the T. Rex later developed as did modern birds. The fossils had hollow bones, but had more lizard like characteristics than bird characteristics. The fossils are currently located at the Ruth Hall museum at Ghost Ranch. The research was published in the science journal.
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20091210/ARTICLES/912109879/1002/NEWS01?Title=New-fossils-shed-light-on-evolution-of-dinosaurs&tc=autorefresh
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