Pangaea Migration Corridor: New Dinanomodon guoi Fossil Links China and South Africa

The supercontinent Pangaea was far more connected than previously imagined. 250 million years ago, massive mammal-like reptiles traversed the equator, bridging the gap between what we now know as China and South Africa.

Discovery of the Dinanomodon guoi Fossil

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IVPP) have identified a new species, Dinanomodon guoi, from specimens collected in Gansu province. This creature belongs to the dicynodonts, a clade of herbivorous therapsids that are distant relatives of modern mammals. According to the South China Morning Post, this is the first bidentalian genus shared between China and South Africa.

The team published their findings in the journal 'Cladistics', dating the fossil to the Late Permian period (299 to 252 million years ago). Dicynodonts were a diverse group, ranging from small burrowers to large grazers, dominating the terrestrial herbivore niches of their time.

Rethinking the Supercontinent's Ecological Corridor

This discovery challenges the long-held belief that the Pangaean equator acted as a harsh barrier to animal migration. The presence of the same genus in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres confirms an ecological corridor capable of supporting large-scale animal movement.

Scientists believe that Dinanomodon guoi crossed the equator more frequently than expected. This reveals a highly integrated global ecosystem where species could migrate across vast distances despite environmental challenges.