Key Takeaways:

• Chakisaurus nekul, a newly identified dinosaur species, lived during the Late Cretaceous period in Patagonia.
• This medium-sized herbivore was notably fast and had a uniquely downward-curving tail.
• It evolved to be swift to escape numerous predators in its environment.

A newly discovered medium-sized herbivorous dinosaur that roamed the earth about 90 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period has been identified in Patagonia, Argentina.

The dinosaur, named Chakisaurus nekul, was unearthed in the Pueblo Blanco Natural Reserve, located in the southern province of Rio Negro. Reports from the Economic Times suggest that Chakisaurus was adept at running quickly.

According to scientists, the Chakisaurus measured 2.5 to 3 meters long and stood about 70 centimeters tall (approximately 8 and 10 feet long and 27 inches high).

Recent findings reveal that Chakisaurus had a distinctively curved tail, which pointed downward, unlike the horizontal tails typically seen in other dinosaurs.

“This new species, Chakisaurus nekul, was a bipedal herbivore. One of its most notable features was its tail, which uniquely curved downward instead of extending horizontally like those of other dinosaurs,” stated Rodrigo Alvarez, the study’s lead researcher.

He further explained, “This is a groundbreaking discovery for these types of animals. Additionally, it was known to be a swift runner, a necessary trait since it coexisted with many predators. Its primary defense mechanism was its speed, allowing it to outrun threats.”