In the last million years of the non-avian dinosaur era, amidst the phosphate-rich sands of what is now central Morocco, a small herbivorous dinosaur quietly roamed the landscape. Taleta taleta is a duck-billed dino, from Morocco and was part of a fascinating group of hadrosaurids that moved from Europe to Africa. It’s a freshly described dinosaur, so its remains are for now, limited to two maxilla. However, this unassuming duckbill has added a new piece to the puzzle of dinosaur evolution in Gondwana.

Taleta Key Facts

Taleta Origins, Taxonomy and Timeline

The name Taleta comes from the Arabic word for “three” (taleta), a nod to its status as the third duckbill dinosaur unearthed from Couche III in Morocco. Though simple, the name reflects both its sequence in discovery and the growing recognition of hadrosaur diversity in this region. Unlike many dinosaur names derived from Greek or Latin, this one connects the animal to its geographic and cultural roots, adding a nice local touch to the language of science.

From a taxonomic perspective, this small-bodied herbivore belongs to the Ornithopoda within the Hadrosauridae. More specifically, it is part of the Lambeosaurinae and the Arenysaurini. The type species is Taleta taleta, and it’s currently the only known representative of its genus, as this is a fairly new discovery. This puts it in the company of two other lambeosaurines from Morocco—Ajnabia odysseus and Minqaria bata—each with unique jaw and tooth adaptations.

Time-wise, Taleta lived during the Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous, between 68.0 and 66.0 million years ago). That places it within the final stretch of the Mesozoic Era, shortly before the mass extinction event that brought an end to the non-avian dinosaurs, and many other groups. 

Discovery & Fossil Evidence

The remains of Taleta were unearthed in the Sidi Chennane locality of Morocco’s Oulad Abdoun Basin, within the fossil-rich Couche III phosphate beds. This layer dates to the latest Maastrichtian, right before the end-Cretaceous extinction event. The phosphate deposit of Morocco are known worldwide for their exceptional preservation of marine vertebrates such as mosasaurs, plesiosaurs and bony fish. Dinosaur remains are rare, and always fragmented. As a result, Taleta is known only from a pair of associated maxillae—left and right upper jawbones—catalogued as specimen MHNM.KH.1557.

These bones, discovered in close proximity and displaying similar size, preservation, and coloration, are almost certainly from a single individual. Though fragmentary, their detail is impressive. Tooth positions, ridges, and other maxillary features provide enough evidence to establish that this duckbill dinosaur was distinct from previously known species.

Taleta Size and Description

Short description of Taleta

At a glance, Taleta may have looked like a scaled-down version of its larger lambeosaurine relatives. Its maxillae were short and relatively tall, with a straight lower margin and a high jugal articulation—features typical of Arenysaurini. The dinosaur likely moved on all fours, as is common in adult hadrosaurids, using its strong hind limbs for locomotion and shorter forelimbs for support.

Its teeth were particularly noteworthy. Unlike other duckbills with multiple functional teeth per position, Taleta had only one functional tooth per maxillary tooth family. Each tooth was large, obliquely set, and featured a massive primary ridge, likely giving the creature a unique chewing pattern. This dental setup points to a different feeding strategy, perhaps focused on tougher or specific types of vegetation.

Size and Weight of Type Species

The preserved part of the maxilla measured about 4.9 inches (125 mm), but would have been around 6.9 to 7.1 inches (175.0–180.0 mm) when complete. From this, paleontologists estimate Taleta’s full body length at approximately 11.5 feet, with a height of around 4.6 feet. It likely weighed about 1,653.5 pounds—roughly three-quarters of a ton.

This makes Taleta noticeably smaller than many of its North American and Asian lambeosaurine cousins, which could reach lengths of over 30.0 feet. However, size alone doesn’t determine evolutionary success. The relatively small body of Taleta and its relatives may reflect an adaptive strategy in the island-like ecosystems of North Africa during the Maastrichtian.

While the size could suggest juvenile status, the bone texture and morphology point to a fully grown individual. This suggests that the Moroccan lambeosaurines, as a group, may have evolved toward smaller adult sizes—possibly a case of insular dwarfism or another unique adaptation to local conditions.

The Dinosaur in Detail

Although its fossil remains are limited, Taleta offers some intriguing anatomical features that help distinguish it from other hadrosaurids. One of the standout traits is the straight and flat lower edge of its maxilla. This contrasts with the more curved or undulating tooth rows seen in its relatives like Minqaria and Ajnabia. Maxillary teeth are very large, and the tooth crowns are obliquely oriented. The alveolar margins are taller medially than laterally, so that the tooth alveoli open ventrolaterally.

Another distinctive feature lies in the teeth themselves. Each maxillary tooth is unusually large and bears a prominent, almost exaggerated central ridge. This ridge interlocks with the surrounding jawbone, forming a tight fit and suggesting a strong bite force despite the animal’s modest size. Taleta’s tooth crowns also have minimal denticles and oblique orientation, traits that may indicate a specialization in processing tougher vegetation or select types of plant matter not favored by its close kin.

What makes this duckbill particularly fascinating is its possible evolutionary strategy. Its reduced number of teeth and their large size resemble juvenile stages of other hadrosaurids. If Taleta is not a juvenile specimen (the authors do suspect that it might be a juvenile because of its small size, but list a few arguments against the hypothesis). This has led to the idea that Taleta may have undergone paedomorphosis—the retention of juvenile features into adulthood. This kind of developmental shift is unusual among hadrosaurids, who more commonly show exaggerated adult traits through peramorphosis. That Taleta bucks this trend suggests it may have explored a very different ecological niche, carving out a space that others in its environment didn’t occupy.

Interesting Points about Taleta

• Taleta is only known from a pair of jawbones, yet this limited material is distinct enough to establish a brand-new genus and species.
• It shows signs of paedomorphosis, retaining juvenile features like a reduced tooth count and simpler jaw structure into adulthood.
• Unlike other lambeosaurines, it had only one functional tooth per position, pointing to a unique feeding strategy within its ecosystem.
• Taleta is one of the few dinosaurs found in the phosphate deposit of Morocco.
• Despite its small size, it belonged to a dynamic group of hadrosaurids, suggesting a rapid adaptive radiation in North Africa.
  

Contemporary Dinosaurs

One of the dinosaurs that shared the landscape with this duckbill was Ampelosaurus, a titanosaur sauropod known from the Late Cretaceous in France. If present in Morocco at the time, this large herbivore would have dominated the landscape physically, browsing from the higher vegetation that Taleta couldn’t reach. Their co-existence would have encouraged dietary niche separation, with Taleta sticking to low-growing plants while the massive sauropods handled the treetops.

Present in this period is Lirainosaurus, another European titanosaur that may have had relatives in Africa. It was much smaller than Ampelosaurus, but would have reached higher vegetation than Taleta.

Another contemporary is Qunkasaurus, a giant titanosaur from Spain that likely occupied a different ecological niche than Taleta due to its size. Though much less is known about it, it may have fed on different types of plants or inhabited distinct microhabitats. In any case, the rich diversity of herbivorous Moroccan dinosaurs like Taleta, Ajnabia, and Minqaria, all coexisting with other dinosaurs, suggests a surprisingly complex ecosystem for what was once thought to be a relatively isolated continent.

Taleta in its Natural Habitat

Imagine the Late Cretaceous landscape of Morocco—a place vastly different from today. The region was part of a shallow marine shelf, where warm coastal plains met the encroaching sea. The climate was subtropical to tropical, with seasonal rainfall supporting a mosaic of lush plant life. Low-growing ferns, flowering plants, and early grasses may have made up Taleta’s primary diet.

As a quadrupedal herbivore, Taleta would have moved steadily across this terrain, using its broad beak and specialized teeth to crop vegetation. Its unique dental setup suggests it may have preferred harder or more fibrous plants, ones that other duckbills passed over. With a strong bite and large teeth, it might have even processed material closer to woody stems or seed-laden plants.

Social behavior in Taleta remains speculative, but based on what we know about other hadrosaurids, it could have lived in small groups or even larger herds. Living among other herbivores and in a world where predators were never far, being part of a group would have offered safety. Its senses—keen eyesight and hearing—would have helped detect danger early, allowing Taleta to retreat into denser cover or move swiftly on its sturdy limbs. Through its unique adaptations and role in the ecosystem, it likely helped shape the structure of the plant community around it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How big was it?
A: Taleta measured about 11.5 feet long, stood around 4.6 feet tall, and weighed approximately 1,653.5 pounds.

Q: Where was it found?
A: Its fossils were discovered in the Couche III phosphate beds of the Oulad Abdoun Basin, central Morocco.

Q: What kind of dinosaur was it?
A: Taleta was a small lambeosaurine hadrosaurid—a duck-billed herbivorous dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous.

Q: What did it eat?
A: It likely fed on low-growing plants like ferns and flowering vegetation, using its strong jaws and unique teeth for grinding.

Q: How old are its fossils?
A: Taleta lived between 68 and 66 million years ago, during the Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous).

Q: Was it found with other dinosaurs?
A: Yes, Taleta lived alongside other duckbills like Ajnabia and Minqaria, as well as predators and sauropods in a diverse ecosystem.

Sources

The information in this article is based on various sources, drawing on scientific research, fossil evidence, and expert analysis. The aim is to provide a comprehensive and accurate overview of Taleta. However, please be aware that our understanding of dinosaurs and their world is constantly evolving as new discoveries are made.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1342937X2500156X?ref=pdf_download&fr=RR-2&rr=94a598a70d60ee87

Article last fact checked: Joey Arboleda, 04-06-2025

Featured image courtesy of Connor Ashbridge CC BY 4.0