Ajnabia is a group of dinosaurs called hadrosaurs that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, around 68 to 66 million years ago.
The name Ajnabia means “stranger” or “foreigner.” It is considered special because it is the first confirmed hadrosaur found in Africa. Researchers believe it is linked to other hadrosaurs, like Adynomosaurus found in Europe.
Ajnabia was discovered in Morocco, in phosphate mines near Khouribga Province. Paleontologists found pieces of its skull, which helps in understanding its features. The name also connects to the famous Greek hero Odysseus, known for his voyages.
An adult Ajnabia was relatively small for a dinosaur, growing to about 11 feet long. It had spaces in its jaw for teeth that were suitable for eating plants.
Scientists classified Ajnabia as part of a group that includes other similar dinosaurs. In studies, they found that Ajnabia may be closely related to another dinosaur called Blasisaurus from Spain.
In the environment where Ajnabia lived, there were mostly marine creatures like sharks and fish, but also a few other dinosaurs. This unique setting is ancient, just before the major event that wiped out most dinosaurs.
Interestingly, Ajnabia may have gotten to Africa from Europe by swimming or drifting across the ocean, since the two continents were separated by water during that time. This hints that some dinosaurs might have traveled long distances over water, which was not thought to be common.
Overall, Ajnabia represents an important piece in understanding how some dinosaurs moved and lived during the Late Cretaceous period, especially in areas where they had not been expected to be found.