Two dinosaur fossils from the Jurassic period have been discovered in Yunnan Province, southwest China.
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The newly-discoverd Lufengosaurus fossil is seen in Lufeng County, southwest
China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 7, 2015 [Credit: Xinhua/Yao Bing] |
The two fossils have been identified as Lufengosaurus Magnus and Lufengosaurus Huenei by the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology. They were discovered during road work in Lufeng County, Yunnan Province, last month.
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A palaeontologist measures newly-discoverd Lufengosaurus fossil in Lufeng County,
southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 7, 2015 [Credit: Xinhua/Yao Bing] |
The Lufengosaurus Magnus fossil is more than five meters long. With three sacral vertebrae, 13 dorsal vertebrae, 22 coccygeal vertebrae and complete hind legs, it is estimated to be nine meters long in full length, explained Wang Tao, director of the department for geological heritage protection under the Lufeng Land Resources Bureau.
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The two dinosaur fossils were unearthed in Lufeng County a month ago and they were
identified as Lufengosaurus magnus and Lufengosaurus huenei, which lived about
180 million years ago. Lufengosaurus is a long-necked, plant-eating dinosaur
known for its gigantic size, with adults reaching 30 feet (9 meters) long
[Credit: Xinhua/Yao Bing] |
The other fossil was found just 500 meters away. It features two preserved shanks, two dorsal vertebrae and two coccygeal vertebrae.
"We will continue in situ conservation once we have built a museum at the excavation site," Wang told Xinhua.
Source: Xinhuanet [December 08, 2015]
