Explore Nigersaurus: Facts, Fossils & Discovery Guide!

Jovani Olson 11 May 2025

Ever wondered about the bizarre and fascinating world of dinosaurs beyond the well-known Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops? Prepare to be amazed by the Nigersaurus, a dinosaur so peculiar that it redefines our understanding of these ancient giants. Its existence challenges preconceived notions of what a dinosaur could be.

The Nigersaurus taqueti, a plant-eating dinosaur that roamed the Earth during the mid-Cretaceous period, approximately 115 to 105 million years ago, presents a captivating case study in paleontology. Its skeletal remains, primarily discovered in the Elrhaz Formation of Niger, West Africa, reveal a creature uniquely adapted to its environment. Far from the imposing carnivores that often dominate dinosaur narratives, Nigersaurus was a relatively small sauropod, reaching about 30 feet in length. Its most distinctive feature, a wide, straight-edged mouth lined with hundreds of teeth, sets it apart from other dinosaurs and offers insights into its specialized feeding habits.

Nigersaurus taqueti: Biographical & Scientific Overview
Name	Nigersaurus taqueti
Meaning	"Niger Reptile," named for the country where it was discovered. "taqueti" honors French paleontologist Philippe Taquet.
Discovered	First remains found in the late 20th century, with significant discoveries in the 1990s and 2000s.
Location of Discovery	Elrhaz Formation, Niger, West Africa
Geological Period	Mid-Cretaceous (Aptian-Albian stages), approximately 115 to 105 million years ago
Classification	Dinosauria, Sauropoda, Rebbachisauridae
Size	Relatively small for a sauropod, around 9 meters (30 feet) in length
Diet	Herbivore; specialized for grazing on low-lying vegetation
Distinguishing Features	Wide, straight-edged mouth Hundreds of teeth arranged in dental batteries Lightweight skull with large fenestrae (openings) Neck held at a downward angle
Notable Paleontologists	Philippe Taquet, Paul Sereno, Jeffrey Wilson
Key Publications	Sereno, P. C., et al. (1999). "A long-necked dinosaur from the Cretaceous of Africa and a new clade of Sauropoda." Science, 286(5443), 1343-1347. Sereno, P. C., et al. (2007). "Structural extremes in a Cretaceous dinosaur." PLoS ONE, 2(11), e1230.
References	National Geographic: Nigersaurus