Mnyamawamtuka

Mm-nya-ma-wah-mm-tu-ka.
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Cassidy Wood

Paleoentomologist

Cassidy Wood uncovers the tiny yet significant world of prehistoric insects. Her research on amber-preserved specimens has revealed intricate details about ancient ecosystems.

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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.

Diet

Herbivore.

Species

M.‭ ‬moyowamkia‭

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.

In Depth

       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.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT