Ancient 'Chinese dragon' Discovered
An incredibly well-preserved fossil of an unusual aquatic reptile from the Triassic period, which occurred around 240 million years ago, has been discovered by a team of palaeontologists. The animal, which was given the nickname "dragon of Lingwu" after the Chinese province where it was discovered, is really a new species known as Dinocephalosaurus orientalis. The fossil is longer than its body and tail put together, measuring over 16 feet long with a neck that extends over 5 feet.
This species featured "flipper-like limbs and an extremely long neck with 32 separate vertebrae - making it a very strange animal indeed," according to Dr. Nick Fraser, curator of the National Museums Scotland, who assisted in the fossil's examination.
This finding gives us the first-ever comprehensive view of this amazing long-necked mammal. Dr. Nick Fraser continued, "It is just one more illustration of the bizarre and fascinating world of the Triassic that still confounds palaeontologists.
Its morphology leads scientists to assume that it was a skilled swimmer who utilised its long, serpentine neck to forage for food in nooks and crannies in the ancient oceans.
This finding gives us the first-ever comprehensive view of this amazing long-necked mammal. Dr. Nick Fraser continued, "It is just one more illustration of the bizarre and fascinating world of the Triassic that still confounds palaeontologists.
Its morphology leads scientists to assume that it was a skilled swimmer who utilised its long, serpentine neck to forage for food in nooks and crannies in the ancient oceans.
Only fragmentary remnants of the Dinocephalosaurus have been found before.
Palaeontologists have finally been able to thoroughly analyse its anatomy for the first time because to this new, far more complete fossil. "Every time we look in these Triassic period deposits, we find something new," as stated by Dr. Fraser.
Palaeontologists have finally been able to thoroughly analyse its anatomy for the first time because to this new, far more complete fossil. "Every time we look in these Triassic period deposits, we find something new," as stated by Dr. Fraser.
The strange assortment of marine life that populated Earth's waters following the Permian mass extinction catastrophe 250 million years ago is better understood in light of this discovery.
According to the primary researcher, Dinocephalosaurus may have had an edge over rival aquatic reptiles in hunting because of its long neck.
The amazing fossil was preserved in old limestone in the southern part of China.
This week saw the publication of the scientific study detailing this significant discovery in the journal Earth and Environmental Science: Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
According to the primary researcher, Dinocephalosaurus may have had an edge over rival aquatic reptiles in hunting because of its long neck.
The amazing fossil was preserved in old limestone in the southern part of China.
This week saw the publication of the scientific study detailing this significant discovery in the journal Earth and Environmental Science: Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.