by Laura Geggel, Staff Writer | December 16, 2015 03:00pm ET
The bizarre rigid "sail" on the back of a newfound species of herbivorous dinosaur may have helped the paleo-beast survive in a variety of climates, a new study finds.
The dinosaur lived during the Early Cretaceous period about 125 million years ago in ancient Spain, the researchers said. During that time, some areas of Iberia had alternating wet and dry periods. Perhaps the dinosaur used its sail to regulate its body temperature, much like an elephant uses its large ears to release excess body heat, the researchers said.
Or, the dinosaur could have used the sail as a place to store fat to use when resources were scarce, the scientists said.
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