It was the size of a Labrador retriever and lived in the United States: meet the newly discovered dinosaur

In a field long dominated by giants, it’s easy to overlook the little guys. But this week, paleontologists unveiled what they have called Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae – more on that name later – a newly identified species of dinosaur from the Late Jurassic that was, remarkably, about the size of a Labrador retriever. Long hind legs. Lightweight frame. Tail like a counterbalance. Oh, and it was really fast.

Where was it found?

The skeleton, found in Colorado’s Morrison Formation and dated to around 150 million years ago, was unusually complete for such a small dinosaur – a rare feat in a fossil record mostly dominated by the big and broken. This one, however, was dug up almost intact (minus the skull), making it a valuable find for scientists trying to understand the full range of ancient ecosystems.

Researchers Paul Barrett and Susannah Maidment from London’s Natural History Museum led the analysis. The museum acquired the fossil after a London gallery, which had been displaying the bones, reached out. Thanks to a donor – Molly Borthwick, now immortalized in the name – the specimen will go on public display in London.

What did this dog-sized dino look like?

Well, Enigmacursor means “mysterious runner” in Latin – and that checks out. It was a bipedal herbivore with long legs built for speed, likely using them to dash from predators. Its closest known relative is a species from China, Yandusaurus hongheensis, suggesting these zippy plant-eaters may have been more widespread than previously thought.

Scientists don’t know how Enigmacursor died, and the lack of a skull means some mysteries remain. If you really want to get the details on this, including pictures and diagrams, check out the official study.

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