GPS Coordinates: N32 33.404 E10 09.869
Governorate:
Delegation:
Site Highlights
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First skeleton in Tunisia
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Articulated vertebrae
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New sauropod dinosaur
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Deposit still rich, especially in crocodiles
Access Route: Reachable via the Tataouine-Remada road, 2 km from Bir Amir. At the Oued level, turn left onto a track toward a gorge in the Dahar cliff. Crossing this gorge, the site is located between the Chenini sandstones and the Oum Diab white sands.
Site Description: A new sauropod dinosaur was recently discovered in Tataouine. Named Tataouinea Hannibalis, it dates back to the Lower Cretaceous, about 110 million years ago. It is a large dinosaur with a very long neck and tail and a relatively small head. This discovery is significant as it is the first articulated dinosaur skeleton found in Tunisia. More importantly, it helps understand evolutionary processes linking dinosaurs to birds. Despite its size, Tataouinea possesses many pneumatized bones (bones with internal cavities) similar to birds; it is the first case of a dinosaur with a pneumatic foramen in the ischion. In birds, this structure aids in flight and respiratory efficiency via air sacs. Scientists are studying if Tataouinea had a similar respiratory system, potentially identifying one of the most distant relatives of modern birds.
