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Dinosaur could have been a pet
Image: Tyler Keillor
New species of dinosaur discovered

A newly-discovered fanged dwarf dinosaur, called the Pegomastax africanus, would have been a nice pet, according to the scientist that discovered it.

The fossil was originally chipped out of red rock in the 1960s but was discovered by palaeontologist and professor at the university of Chicago, Paul Sereno, who is also National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, in a collection of fossils at Harvard University.

Sereno published his study of the dinosaur, nicknamed thick-jaw from Africa, in the ZooKeys online journal. He said that the dinosaur lived along forested rivers in southern Africa about 200 million years ago, at the very beginning of the dinosaur era.

It is thought that the Pegomastax had reptile scales, porcupine-like quills, a blunt, parrot-like beak and was about the size of a domestic cat - growing to around 0.6 metres (2ft) long. The dinosaur was part of the Heterodontosaurus family and was a herbivore, with fangs used for self-defence and competition for mates, as opposed to meat-eating.

Professor Sereno said: "It would be a nice pet - if you could train it not to nip you."

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

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News Shorts
Lords Committee opens Pet Parasite Medication inquiry

The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee will launch its inquiry into Pet Parasite Medication (PPM) on Wednesday (3 June).

Focusing on treatments containing fipronil and imidacloprid, the inquiry will seek to understand distribution pathways and the impacts of PPM use and non-use on biodiversity and human health. It will also cover current regulation, monitoring, and the potential implications for pets and their owners.

The committee will hear evidence from environmental non-governmental organisations and research institutes. The public can follow the proceedings live on Parliament TV or in person in the Palace of Westminster.