Could Dinosaurs Have Walked From Brazil to Africa?
May 22, 2026
The earliest dinosaurs appeared around 230 million years ago. At that time, the Atlantic Ocean did not exist. Brazil and Africa were part of the same continuous landmass. The question is not whether dinosaurs could walk between them, but how long they had to do so before the continents separated.
When Dinosaurs First Appeared
The earliest known dinosaurs come from South America, particularly from the Ischigualasto Formation in Argentina, dating to about 230 million years ago. These early dinosaurs were small, bipedal animals, nothing like the giants that would later dominate the planet. At this time, Pangea was fully assembled.
The land connection between what is now Brazil and what is now West Africa was complete and uninterrupted. An early dinosaur walking east from the Argentine interior would eventually reach terrain that is now part of West Africa, though the journey across the interior would take weeks or months.
Fossil Evidence Across the Atlantic
Paleontologists have found evidence of closely related dinosaur species on both sides of the Atlantic, in rocks that date from the Triassic and early Jurassic periods. The sauropodomorph dinosaurs, ancestors of the long-necked giants, appear in both South America and Africa in rocks of the same age.
The freshwater reptile Mesosaurus, which predates the dinosaurs, is found in both Brazil and South Africa. Because Mesosaurus could not have crossed a wide ocean, its presence on both sides is direct evidence that these landmasses were joined.
The dinosaur Plateosaurus and related forms appear in rocks of the same age in South America, Africa, and Europe, proving they roamed freely across Pangea before the continents split.
When the Land Bridge Was Cut
The land connection between South America and Africa began to break around 130 million years ago, well into the age of dinosaurs. By this time, dinosaurs had been walking freely between the two regions for roughly 100 million years.
Once the South Atlantic began to form, the two landmasses quickly became too far apart for land animals to cross. By the time the ocean was wide enough to be a real barrier, roughly 100 to 120 million years ago, the dinosaur faunas of the two continents began to diverge.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the land connection between Brazil and Africa break?
Rifting began around 130 million years ago, starting in the south and propagating northward. The final land connection was severed roughly 100 to 110 million years ago.
Did the same dinosaur species live in both Brazil and Africa?
Early dinosaur groups from the Triassic and early Jurassic appear on both sides, including early sauropodomorphs. Later Cretaceous dinosaurs are more distinct, reflecting 100 million years of separate evolution.
Is this why similar dinosaur fossils are found in Brazil and Africa?
Yes. Closely related dinosaur fossils in Brazil and Africa are direct evidence of the time when these landmasses were joined, allowing the free movement of land animals across what is now an ocean.