Dippy the Diplodocus might have been sent to Coventry, but London Natural History Museum has a new dino skeleton for us to admire.
The redoubtably named Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae (Enigmacursor for short) is a newly-discovered species of dinosaur, which would have roamed the floodplains of what is now the Morrison Formation in North America, during the Late Jurassic period — some 145-150 million years ago.
Its skeleton has just gone on permanent display in the Natural History Museum's Earth Hall, joining Sophie the Stegosaurus, also excavated in the Morrison Formation.
While the 64cm-tall, 180cm-long skeleton isn't on the same scale as Dippy (let's face it, Enigmacursor is a mere slip of a dino), unlike the celebrity diplodocus, it is a bona fide skeleton rather than a plaster cast. And a remarkably intact skeleton at that, given its vintage.
The nimbly-formed dinosaur — which was unearthed from a commercial quarry in 2021/2022 — gets the second part of its name, 'cursor' from the fact it would have been a speedy runner. The 'Enigma' part stems from the confusion surrounding its taxonomy; the dinosaur was first believed to have been a form of Nanosaurus (or 'dwarf lizard'), but research published in the Royal Society Open Science journal, co-authored by Museum palaeontologists Prof. Susannah Maidment and Prof. Paul Barrett., reveals it to be an entirely new genus and species.
Prof. Paul Barrett, co-author of the study, says: "‘Unveiling Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae in our world class natural history museum, whilst also placing it reliably onto the evolutionary tree, is an incredibly exciting milestone.
"Enabling access to a high-quality specimen, made possible by donation, for our millions of visitors is an important part of our work to inspire an appreciation of the wonders of the natural world and its deep history."
As for what Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae's nickname will be? Molly, surely.
In other Jurassic news, Lightbox launches its new experience, Prehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs, on 9 July.
You can see Enigmacursor/Molly in the Earth Hall of the Natural History Museum in South Kensington now. Entry is free.
