Dinosaur Fossil Found in China Surprises Scientists

According to the study published in the journal Nature, the dinosaur called “Fujianvenator prodigiosus”, which means “strange fucian hunter”, was about the size of current pheasants and weighed about 640 grams.

The fossil appeared to have legs that were twice as long as its thighs. This is a different feature than what is seen in most dinosaurs.

The lead author of the study is Prof. Dr. Min Wang explained that the discovery is important as it fills the gap in the fossil record about the origin of birds.

“THEY WILL SHOW A NEW LIGHT ON EVOLUTION”

“Given its unique skeletal shape, Fujianvenator sheds new light on morphological evolution, the earliest evolutionary period of birds,” Wang said.

Min said that although no feathers were found on the fossil, Fujianvenator most likely had feathers like its closest relatives on the dinosaur family tree.

In the study, it was observed that the presence of a long leg in extant animals in species that can run fast suggests that Fujianvenator may be a runner that can reach high speeds.

On the other hand, it was pointed out that Fujianvenator may have lived in a swamp or aquatic environment, since long legs are also seen today in birds that live near water such as storks and cranes.

The fossil was claimed to have been found along with fossils of other aquatic animals and amphibians, including turtles and light-finned fish, indicating that the dinosaur spent time in swamps.

“CAN FLY”

The research highlighted that other known early bird-like dinosaurs lived in trees and were naturally able to fly.

Birds are thought to have descended from two-legged “theropod dinosaurs” (the group to which Tyrannosaurus Rex (T-Rex) belongs) during the Jurassic period, but due to the relative paucity of early evolutionary fossils, not much is known. about. .

The Fujianvenator discovery is an important finding that will help us better understand the origin and evolution of birds. (AA)