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Fossil of Dinocephalosaurus orientalis. (National Museums of Scotland)
An international team of scientists has released images of what they say is a 240-million-year-old aquatic reptile fossil that resembles the long, serpentine features of a mythical Chinese dragon.
Dinocephalosaurus orientalis was more than 16 feet long and roamed the Triassic waters of China, according to a news release from the National Museums of Scotland.
The reptile’s unusually long neck contains 32 separate cervical vertebrae, and has led to comparisons with other bizarre marine reptile fossils discovered around the same time in Europe and China.
“However, dinocephalosaurs are unique in having more vertebrae in both the neck and torso, giving the animal a more snake-like appearance,” the scientists said. Masu.
The species was first identified in 2003, but more complete specimens have since been discovered in China, including one that is reportedly “fully articulated.” , scientists have now been able to recreate this strange long-necked beast in renderings.
“With this discovery, we can now see the entire body of this amazing long-necked animal for the first time. It’s another example of the strange and wonderful world of the Triassic that continues to baffle paleontologists.” said Dr Nick Fraser, head of natural sciences at the National Museums of Scotland.
According to the release, fossils of Dinocephalosaurus show that the animal had upturned limbs and a fish preserved in its abdomen, both of which scientists believe led to the giant reptile’s marine life. This is evidence that he was very well adapted to the
“This is an international effort,” said Professor Lee Chun of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology. “Of all the amazing discoveries we have made in the Triassic of Guizhou, Dinocephalosaurus stands out as perhaps the most remarkable.”
A team of researchers from four countries, including the United States, studied the fossil for more than a decade at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Dr. Stefan Speakman, a researcher at the Stuttgart State Museum of Natural History, said: “We hope that our future research will help us further understand the evolution of this group of animals, and in particular how their elongated necks functioned. I hope it will be helpful.”
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