News Paleontology

New fossil helps solidify dino origins

Remains of a dog-sized creature support idea of dinosaurs' South American origin and early, rapid evolution

By Sid Perkins

- More than 2 years ago

Fossils of a small carnivorous dinosaur unearthed in New Mexico back up the idea that all dinosaurs originated in what is now South America, evolved quickly and then dispersed from their homeland.

SMALL BEGINNINGS The idea that dinosaurs originated in what is now South America and evolved quickly is bolstered by similarities between a newly found fossil of Tawa hallae, above, and an evolutionary predecessor (scale bar represents 25 centimeters).