Science

New dinosaur species discovered in Montana, experts say

Experts at the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center are confident the bones found by a team in Montana are those of a previously undiscovered species.

Dinosaur nicknamed Ava due to its resemblance to the plant-eating Avaceratops

Called Ava due to its resemblance to the plant-eating Avaceratops, experts believe this is a new species of dinosaur. (Handout/Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center )

Experts at the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center are confident the bones found by a team in Montana are those of a previously undiscovered species.

The Colorado Springs Gazette reports outside experts will confirm whether this is indeed a new species of dinosaur, nicknamed Ava due to its resemblance to the plant-eating Avaceratops.

The centre's curator, Anthony Maltese, is a member of the Triebold Paleontology Inc. field excavation team. The firm has been uncovering the skeleton since 2012.

Maltese says there were enough differences between Ava and the Avaceratops that researchers were sure they'd found something new.

The skeleton was used to make a replica that was unveiled in an exhibit Wednesday at the centre in Woodland Park, Colo.