New species of duck-billed dinosaur discovered in Mexico

This dinosaur lived in what is now Mexico about 72.5 million years ago, at the end of the Cretaceous period. Previously, its remains were mistakenly considered to belong to the species Crytosaurus, but a detailed analysis of the skull showed significant differences, which allowed it to be separated into a separate species.

The main distinguishing feature of Coahuilasaurus lipani is its duck-likebeak, which formed the entire front of the skull. It was shorter and deeper than in other species, and also had unusual tooth-like protrusions on the palate. These features indicate that the dinosaur was an herbivore, and its diet may have included palm trees and other hardy plants that grew in the rainforests that covered the area where the Coahuila Desert is now located.

According to the study published in the journal Diversity, the shape of the jaws and morphological features show that Coahuilasaurus lipani was a specialised species adapted to specific environmental conditions. Scientists believe that its evolution may have been driven by sexual selection and adaptation to different food sources.

The researchers also note that about 73 million years ago, the climate on Earth was much warmer and sea levels were higher. This confirms the fact that the territory of modern Mexico was covered with tropical forests, where plants such as palm trees, bananas and cacti grew. The fossils found show that in ancient times there was a unique and rich dinosaur fauna in these lands.

Recent findings by palaeontologists show that the dinosaurs that lived in northern Mexico were very different from those found in the United States and Canada. For example, the Hadrosaurs, to which Coahuilasaurus lipani belongs, represented one of the most diverse dinosaur lineages in North America.

The discovery of Coahuilasaurus lipani not only adds a new species to the already known dinosaurs, but also helps to better understand the diversity of the Late Cretaceous fauna across North America. The specialisation of these dinosaurs in food and ecological niches indicates the complex processes of adaptation and evolution that took place during that period.