Africa's Forgotten Dinosaurs | Nizar Ibrahim | TEDxUofIChicago

Much of what we know about the "Age of Dinosaurs" is based on research efforts, discoveries, and collections located in North America and Europe, with increasing contributions from South America and Asia. However, Africa, the world's second-largest continent, is severely underrepresented. Africa also lags far behind in scientific infrastructure like museums and research collections. Paleontologist Nizar Ibrahim is tackling these issues by spearheading collaborative research projects in Africa which have yielded some of the continent's most spectacular finds. Ibrahim's efforts are part of a larger movement: the emergence of a new generation of African scientists and explorers, prepared to rewrite the textbooks of paleontology. Over the last decade, paleobiologist Dr. Nizar Ibrahim, a 2015 TED Fellow, has unearthed a spectacular prehistoric menagerie in Africa's Sahara desert, including a 20-foot wingspan flying reptile and a sail-backed, water-loving, fish-eating dinosaur. Using biology, geology, anatomy, and cutting-edge technology, he tries to reconstruct these "dragons from Deep Time" and the lost worlds they lived in.
Africa's "age of dinosaurs" remains highly underrepresented in global evolutionary narratives and the continent lags far behind North America, Europe, and Asia. Ibrahim's research, which includes African scientific collaborators, is shedding much-needed light on the continent's incredible ancient heritage. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@sphiwenzuza6331]

Thank you Mr Nizar Ibrahim

[@gumpyflyale2542]

What are your thoughts on mokele mbembe legends and other mythical animals from the congo?

[@sphiwenzuza6331]

Thank you

[@gumpyflyale2542]

What about living dinosaurs in Africa like the Mokele Mbembe

[@bigmoe4712]

Wonderful video! You're a wonderful speaker! Please keep up the great work! Also, are their other ways to follow your work? Please let me know.

[@mroverdose1133]

Leave our animals alone. They'll be fine without outsiders pocking around. We'll let you know if they show up ;)

[@speedracer2008]

1:49 My favorite dinosaur

[@aminebenz1411]

north african early cretaceous seems to be the weirdest ecosystem that ever existed.

[@gumpyflyale2542]

Reports of half elephant half dragons go back by Europeans from 1776 in the Belgium Congo and still continue to this day. Mokele Mbembe is the most famous also there is another creature with two horns. He is know to kill elephants. Your thoughts on these creatures.

[@gumpyflyale2542]

They might be alive today

[@j.w.presents9552]

There have been sighting of "dinosaurs" for hundreds of years. Did you know the word dinosaur wasn't an actual word, in the dictionary until 1891? The Bible uses the word "dragon" for describing these animals. You look up the old dictionary word dragon and find it says, " now rare." HMMMM. The geology column is literally circular reasoning.

[@harryw5468]

Very interesting

[@gumpyflyale2542]

Look up mokele mbembe reports from Europeans go back to 1776 of half elephants half dragons. Its footprints are the size of a large frying pan with three claw marks 7 to 8 feet apart. There are undiscovered beast still out there.

[@gumpyflyale2542]

French missionarys have made reports of a half elephant half dragon since 1776 describing there footprints to be 3 ft wide and having 3 claw marks in them, and being the size of a large frying pan being 7 to 8 feed wide

[@TecumsehSherman36]

THE MILLIONS OF YEARS STORY SEEMS QUESTIONABLE TO ME....FIRST, HOW CAN ANY BONE LAST THAT LONG?

[@j.w.presents9552]

Then that means you're doing the right thing. Thinking. There have been sighting of "dinosaurs" for hundreds of years. Did you know the word dinosaur wasn't an actual word, in the dictionary until 1891? The Bible uses the word "dragon" for describing these animals. You look up the old dictionary word dragon and find it says, " now rare." HMMMM

[@sahaawal9491]

There is a dinasaur in Ghana called Nana Akuffo addo.

[@dinarusso3320]

I believe it, there is a lot of unexplored wilderness in Africa. Anything can be out there surviving and hiding from humans.

[@joenbjerregaard7816]

of the Hominidae species lol

[@MohamedMoha-o9r]

السلام عليكم سي نزار كيف حالك معك عزيز من اولاد العربي مغراوة

[@alisonlaw]

Didn't siats live along t rex?

[@alejandrorojas6835]

lol no

[@gumpyflyale2542]

Look up crypto hunt youtube channel.

[@jasongillies1285]

Dies bonus habere populorum de bonam

[@gumpyflyale2542]

Any Cryptozoologist in the chats?

[@thebroker2191]

Yes I believe Miller mbembe existed in the late 1800s

[@carldeithorn3450]

Hello! Armchair novice here! Cryptozoology has always fascinated me, ever since I was a very young child. If they had taught it in school, it would've been my favorite subject! CHEERS! 🍻✌

[@berndmayer1765]

@@carldeithorn3450 Same here! Hi 🙂