A newly discovered prehistoric animal species from Tanzania, dating back approximately 240 million years to the Triassic period, has been identified by an international research team led by the University of Bristol. The species, named Dinodontosaurus isiyavamanda, could help refine the age of a significant fossil site and reshape the timeline of early dinosaur evolution. The study, published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, suggests that some of the earliest potential dinosaur fossils from Tanzania may be younger than previously thought. The fossils were originally collected during a British expedition in 1963 in what is now Tanzania. These fossils, which belong to a group of mammal-lineage vertebrates called synapsids, were stored at the Natural History Museum in London but were only partially studied. This left uncertainty about their identity and their significance for understanding ecosystems from around 240 million years ago. By examining an unexamined skeleton of a herbivorous synapsid group called dicynodonts, along with a more recently found skull fragment, the research team identified the fossils as belonging to the genus Dinodontosaurus. This was a surprise, as Dinodontosaurus had previously only been known from South America. The name Dinodontosaurus isiyavamanda honors the Wamanda people, who live in the area of Tanzania where the fossils were found. This discovery has broader implications beyond identifying a new species. The rocks in Tanzania that yielded Dinodontosaurus isiyavamanda are the same geological layers that have produced fossils thought to be among the oldest possible dinosaurs. Previously, these rocks were believed to be similar in age to rocks in South Africa, which were considered Middle Triassic. Now that Dinodontosaurus is known to exist in both Tanzania and South America, it establishes a link between the rock layers in these regions, showing they are of similar age. New radiometric dating from South America suggests that these early dinosaur-bearing rock layers are up to 10 million years younger than those in South Africa. This adds to the evidence that the Triassic rocks of Tanzania cannot be considered to contain the oldest potential dinosaur fossils. As a result, scientists are reassessing when and where dinosaurs first evolved. Hady George, a Ph.D. student at the University of Bristol and lead author of the study, said, "Our discovery marks the first confirmed record of the genus Dinodontosaurus outside South America. The finding links the Tanzanian and South American fossil-bearing rocks, showing they are of equivalent age. This helps confirm that the oldest dinosaur candidates from Tanzania are probably no older than those from South America, refining the timeline of dinosaur origins." Dr. Mike Day, a curator at the Natural History Museum in London, emphasized the importance of revisiting museum collections. He noted that the Tanzanian fossil had been in their care for over 60 years and that its identification has provided new insights into life on Earth 240 million years ago. He added that such discoveries highlight the value of preserving and studying museum collections, as they can reshape our understanding of prehistoric life just as much as new field discoveries. The new discovery opens the door for further research. Much of the Tanzanian Dinodontosaurus material remains to be examined, especially the parts of the skeleton beyond the skull. Future studies will compare these remains with those from South America, as well as investigate the biomechanics of Dinodontosaurus and related dicynodonts. This work aims to better understand how multiple large herbivorous species could have coexisted in Triassic ecosystems.