66 million years ago, dinosaurs mysteriously vanished from Earth, leaving scientists puzzled. New discoveries of abelisaurs – relatives of the tyrannosaurs – in North Africa indicate that diverse dinosaur species existed until their sudden extinction, possibly due to the impact of a massive asteroid.

For centuries, the reasons behind the mass extinction of dinosaurs have been debated. While some believed in catastrophic events driving extinction, others suggested gradual environmental changes and competition between species. However, the end of the Cretaceous period witnessed a sudden and widespread extinction, leading to the disappearance of numerous species globally. The discovery of the 180km-wide Chixculub asteroid impact crater in Mexico further indicated a sudden extinction event, though some argue that a prolonged decline in dinosaur diversity also played a role.

Understanding the extinction event is challenging due to the scarcity and fragmented nature of dinosaur fossils. Most research has focused on specific locations in the United States, Canada, and Mongolia, providing limited information about the dinosaurs in southern landmasses such as South America, India, Madagascar, Australia, Antarctica, and New Zealand.

Africa, with its vast landmass, likely harbored a diverse range of dinosaur species. However, the scarcity of terrestrial rocks from the end-Cretaceous period in Africa made it challenging to study its dinosaur population. Nonetheless, extensive research on marine fossils in Morocco has provided valuable insights.

While the marine sediments in Morocco primarily contain fish bones, shark teeth, and marine reptiles, occasional dinosaur fossils have been found, raising questions about how they ended up in marine beds. The discovery of titanosaurian sauropods and diverse predatory dinosaurs, including the ten-meter-long Chenanisaurus barbaricus, has provided crucial information about African dinosaurs’ last days.

Recent findings of new abelisaur fossils in Morocco, resembling those from South America and Europe, have suggested ancient land connections or potential seaway crossings between continents. These discoveries challenge the notion of a global decline in dinosaur diversity and hint at thriving dinosaur populations in low latitudes, implying a sudden and catastrophic end to their existence.

The fossils found in Africa indicate that dinosaurs flourished until their abrupt extinction, driven by rare and improbable events. These remarkable discoveries not only shed light on the dinosaurs’ fate but also highlight the role of unexpected scientific findings in advancing our understanding of Earth’s history.

Nicholas R. Longrich, Senior Lecturer in Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology, Life Sciences at the University of Bath, University of Bath