Ngwevu

Ngwevu was named in 2019 from a fossil that was once thought to be a Massospondylus. Scientists realized it was a new dinosaur because its skull was wider and shorter than Massospondylus.1

The fossil of Ngwevu is a nearly complete skull and partial skeleton. It was nicknamed 'grey skull' by scientists before it got its official name.1

Ngwevu lived about 201 to 193 million years ago, during the Early Jurassic period.2

Bone growth rings show that the Ngwevu fossil was at least 10 years old when it died and was nearly full grown.1

Ngwevu had a wide skull that was wider than it was tall. This is different from many other early sauropodomorphs, which had narrower skulls.1

Its wide snout may have helped Ngwevu eat a different mix of plants than its relative Massospondylus, so the two dinosaurs could live in the same area without competing too much.1