Scientists learn that Chile had duck-billed dinosaurs 72 million years ago

According to a new research published on Friday, aduck-billed herbivorous dinosaurs inhabited the remote and ancient river plains of Patagonia in southern Chile around 72 million years ago.

According to a research published in Science Advances, the dinosaur was given the name Gonkoken nanoi and could reach lengths of 4 meters (13.12 ft), weighing up to a metric ton.

Yellowish bone pieces were found in Patagonia in 2013 by an expedition organized by the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH) not far from the popular tourist site Torres del Paine. This started an inquiry that lasted for over ten years.

“At first, we thought it was from the same group as other South American hadrosaurs, but as the study progressed, we realized that it was something unprecedented,” said Jonathan Alarcon, the study’s primary author.

According to Alarcon, it was challenging to remove the more than 100 parts that researchers had retrieved without causing harm to other sections. The next step was for scientists to confirm that the bones belonged to the same species and to compare them to previously conducted studies to confirm that it was in fact a new species.

Alexander Vargas, another research author, said that “(the) Gonkoken nanoi is not an advanced duck-billed dinosaur, but rather an older transitional duck-billed lineage: an evolutionary link to advanced forms.”

The skeleton was digitally recreated thanks to the meticulous study, and the team plans to 3D print it for public exhibition.

The term “gonkoken” is a mixture of two Aonikenk words. “Koken” refers to a wild duck or swan, while the word “gon” denotes comparable to or like. Patagaonia was inhabited by the native Aonikenk people until the end of the 19th century.

While “nanoi” is a tribute to Mario ‘nano’ Ulloa, a former rancher who gave the crew logistical help during the first discovery, Alarcon added.