240-million-year-old dragon fossil discovered!
An international team, including Dr. Nick Fraser from the National Museums of Scotland, has discovered a 240-million-year-old dragon fossil in ancient limestone deposits in southern China.
BBC
A new fossil has been discovered by scientists, believed to date back to the Triassic period, as the remains of a 5-meter-long aquatic reptile.
It was reported that the fossil dates back 240 million years and has been dubbed a "dragon" due to its extremely long neck.
This species, named Dinocephalosaurus orientalis, was first described in 2003. The new fossil has allowed scientists to examine the entire anatomy of this prehistoric creature more clearly.
Dr. Nick Fraser from the National Museums of Scotland, who is part of the international team studying the fossil, stated that for the first time, scientists have been able to observe the fossil in its entirety.
The researcher suggested that the animal's 32 separate vertebrae, forming a "long, bendable, and flexible neck," may have provided a hunting advantage by allowing the animal to search for food in underwater crevices.
The fossil was found in ancient limestone deposits in southern China.
In a statement to the BBC, Dr. Fraser said, "This discovery sheds new light on the mysteries of the Triassic period. As we study these deposits, we are constantly making new discoveries."