News Paleontology

Study picks new site for dinosaur nostrils

By Sid Perkins

- More than 2 years ago

An innovative analysis of fossils and living animals suggests that most dinosaurs’ nostrils occurred at locations toward the tip of their snout rather than farther up on their face.

The skull of Diplodocus (top), along with a traditional reconstruction (middle) that has the nostrils placed near the rear of the nasal opening and a revised representation (bottom) with the nostrils at a more forward position.