Ever wondered which dinosaur boasted an arsenal of 500 teeth? The answer isn't a creature of nightmares, but rather a fascinating herbivore known as the Nigersaurus, a testament to the incredible diversity that thrived during the Mesozoic Era. Its unique dental structure has captivated paleontologists, making it one of the most remarkable dinosaurs ever unearthed.

This creature, a herbivorous dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period, challenges our perceptions of prehistoric life. It roamed the earth approximately 110 million years ago, during a time when dinosaurs dominated the landscape. While the crown for the biggest dinosaur ever discovered belongs to Patagotitan mayorum, a colossal titanosaur from Patagonia, Argentina, the Nigersaurus holds a different kind of distinction. Its most striking feature, as the initial question suggests, is undeniably its astonishing array of 500 teeth, meticulously arranged in rows within its wide, flat jaw. The sheer number is astounding, but the arrangement and function of these teeth are what truly set it apart.

Attribute	Details
Name	Nigersaurus
Meaning	"Niger Lizard" (named after the country of Niger, where it was discovered)
Classification	Genus of dinosaur, Sauropod, Rebbachisauridae family
Period	Late Cretaceous period (approximately 115 to 105 million years ago)
Location	Present-day Niger, Africa
Diet	Herbivore (browser)
Size	Relatively small for a sauropod (around 30 feet long)
Key Feature	Possessed approximately 500 teeth arranged in rows within its wide, flat jaw
Dental Adaptation	Teeth were constantly replaced, with new teeth erupting to replace worn ones. This dental battery acted like a lawnmower, efficiently cropping vegetation.
Head Posture	Head held close to the ground for browsing on low-lying vegetation
Brain Size	Relatively small brain size compared to body size
Olfactory Bulb	Underdeveloped region of the brain for detecting smell
Closest Relatives	Nigersaurinae subfamily within the Rebbachisauridae family, part of the Diplodocoidea superfamily.
Habitat	Rivers and wetlands with abundant vegetation
Social Behavior	Likely roamed in herds
Discoverer	First described by Philippe Taquet in 1976, fully described by Paul Sereno and his team in 1999.
Significance	Provides crucial insights into dinosaur diversity, feeding adaptations, and the paleogeography of the Cretaceous period in Africa.
Further Information	Nigersaurus on Wikipedia