Dinodontosaurus: The Ancient ‘Cow of the Triassic’ existed in Tanzania over 240 million years ago.

There is a very strange looking prehistoric creature which could have lived in the present-day Tanzania, over 240 million years ago.

It may look like a bizarre cross between a pig, a turtle and a saber-toothed cat.

However, scientists say this was one of the most formidable herbivores of the Triassic era.

Scientists have identified a previously unknown species of giant tusked creature that roamed what is now Tanzania around 240 million years ago, when the first dinosaurs walked the Earth.

Dubbed the ‘cow of the Triassic’ the animal, named Dinodontosaurus isiyavamanda, belonged to a group of mammal relatives called dicynodonts.

It was the dominant herbivore of its time and would have moved around in herds, experts say.

And despite being a plant-eater, its distinctive beak and enormous tusks meant it could have caused serious damage to any predator that targeted it.

The fossils were first unearthed in the east African country in the 1960s and housed at the Natural History Museum in London – but have only now been fully examined.

Dr Mike Day, curator of non-mammalian tetrapods at the museum, said: ‘This fossil specimen from Tanzania has been in our care for over 60 years, and it’s wonderful that its identity has now been brought to light.

‘By revealing that Dinodontosaurus lived in South America and eastern Africa, it offers a glimpse of our planet 240million years ago.’

The fossilised remains of the front of the cranium and lower jaw of the animal.

It had a turtle-like beak and enormous tusks

The fossilised remains of the front of the cranium and lower jaw of the animal.

It had a turtle-like beak and enormous tusks

The analysis, led by a team from the University of Bristol, found that the animal would have been capable of delivering a painful bite.

While patterns on the tusks suggest they may have been used to forage and dig up plant roots, the researchers say they could also have been useful for fighting or defending themselves against predators.

The discovery could also have implications far beyond the strange-looking creature.

The researchers said that until now, animals which belonged to the genus Dinodontosaurus have only been found in South America.

Crucially, the Tanzanian rocks containing the fossils are also home to remains previously thought to represent some of the oldest potential dinosaurs.

But the new discovery suggests those rocks may not be as old as scientists had previously believed.

Since Dinodontosaurus is now known from both Tanzania and South America, the researchers were able to link the geological sequences in the two regions and show that they are of equivalent age.

Radiometric dating from South America suggests these dinosaur-bearing rock sequences could be up to ten million years younger than equivalent rocks in South Africa.

This means the Tanzanian rocks can no longer be regarded as preserving the oldest potential dinosaur fossils, prompting scientists to reassess when and where dinosaurs first evolved.

Lead author Hady George 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.

‘Forthcoming research projects will examine the remaining fossil material and explore the biomechanics and ecology of Triassic dicynodonts.’