The newly-described fossil is long and snake-like, reminiscent of an animal like the mythical Chinese Dragon.
An international team of scientists has revealed the mysteries surrounding Dinocephalosaurus orientalis, a five-meter-long aquatic reptile from the Triassic period of China, dating back approximately 240 million years.
“It is yet one more example of the weird and wonderful world of the Triassic that continues to baffle paleontologists. We are certain that it will capture imaginations across the globe due to its striking appearance, reminiscent of the long and snake-like, mythical Chinese Dragon.” Despite initial superficial similarities, Dinocephalosaurus is not closely related to the long-necked plesiosaurs that evolved much later, debunking any connection to the myth of the
Over ten years, researchers from Scotland, Germany, America, and China collaborated at the Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology in Beijing.“Working together with colleagues from the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Europe, we used newly discovered specimens housed at the Chinese Academy of Sciences to build on our existing knowledge of this animal.”
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