Name:
Mnyamawamtuka
(Beast of the Mtuka).
Phonetic: Mm-nya-ma-wah-mm-tu-ka.
Named By: Eric Gorscak & Patrick M.
O’Connor - 2019.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia, Dinosauria,
Saurischia, Sauropoda, Titanosauria, Lithostrotia.
Species: M. moyowamkia
(type).
Diet: Herbivore.
Size: Holotype estimated to be about 7.6 meters
long. Full adult size unknown.
Known locations: Tanzania - Galula Formation.
Time period: Aptian/Cenomanian of the Cretaceous.
Fossil representation: Partial post cranial
skeleton including fossils of vertebrae, ribs, shoulder blade,
hips, legs and feet. Remains are of a juvenile.
Certainly
one of the more difficult dinosaur names to pronounce, Mnyamawamtuka
is a genus of titanosaur
that lived in Africa during the Cretaceous.
The holotype of Mnyamawamtuka is recognised as one
of the most
complete titanosaurs ever discovered. The high level of completeness
may be down to the fact that this creature was not fully grown, but
still a juvenile at the time of death. This smaller body size it
could be more easily covered up before it could be eaten by
scavengers.
Further reading
- A new African titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur from the middle
Cretaceous Galula Formation (Mtuka Member), Rukwa Rift Basin,
southwestern Tanzania. - PLoS ONE. 2 (14). - Eric
Gorscak & Patrick M. O’Connor - 2019.