Tawa hallae is an extinct type of dinosaur that lived about 215 million years ago during the Late Triassic period. Its name is inspired by Tawa, the Hopi word for a sun god, reflecting its bright and warm time in Earth’s history.
Tawa was discovered in Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, where many dinosaur fossils were found. The remains suggest that Tawa was around 2.5 meters long, which is about 8 feet, and weighed around 15 kilograms or 33 pounds. Researchers believe Tawa was an early theropod dinosaur, which is a group that includes modern birds and many meat-eating dinosaurs.
The bones of Tawa show unique features that help scientists understand how dinosaurs evolved. Its skull looked similar to other early dinosaurs but had some distinct characteristics. This creates a link to how birds may have evolved as well.
Tawa was officially named and described in 2009. Fossils of Tawa were first found in 2004, and scientists studied several specimens to learn more about it. Among the important findings are different fossils showing that Tawa grew and changed as it aged.
The area where Tawa was found, known as the Hayden Quarry, had a warm and rainy climate. It was close to the equator, and many types of creatures lived there, including Tawa and its relatives, which helps picture what early life was like on Earth.
Tawa’s discovery adds to the understanding that the earliest dinosaurs likely originated in a region called Gondwana, which eventually spread to different parts of the world. Tawa, along with other dinosaurs from that time, played a significant role in the history of dinosaur evolution.