A paleontologist
scrutinizes a site where a dinosaur fossil was unearthed in
Dongyang, eastern China's Zhejiang Province, September, 2007.
Chinese and Japanese scientists have confirmed a dinosaur fossil
unearthed in eastern China's Zhejiang Province in September was a
new species of the animal. [File Photo: zjol.com.cn]
Chinese and Japanese scientists have confirmed a dinosaur fossil
unearthed in eastern China's Zhejiang Province in September was a
new species of the animal.
The fossil, measuring five meters tall and 15 meter long,
basically was a sauropod, or a large, long-necked herbivorous
dinosaur, in the Cretaceous Period about 60 million years ago, said
Jin Xingsheng, deputy curator of the Zhejiang Museum of Natural
History.
The fossils were unearthed at the foot of Hugong Mountain on the
outskirts of Dongyang City.
After meticulous study and comparison of the fossils, the
scientists concluded the dinosaur belonged to a new species.
"It demonstrates many unique features, different from any
identified dinosaur species. It will enrich the dinosaur family,"
Jin said.
"But the scientific name for this species of dinosaur will be
subject to examination and approval. It will probably be named
after Dongyang."
Scientists are currently restoring the fossils in the Dongyang
Museum and they plan to put them on show in late May or early
June.
The first discovery of dinosaur fossils in Zhejiang dated back
to 1977 when a 22-meter-long Jiangshanosaurus Lixianensis was
unearthed.
In August last year, scientists announced the identification of
a new dinosaur species -- "Zhejiangosaurus Lishuiensis" -- which
was found in 2000 at a village near Lishui City in Zhejiang.
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(Xinhua News Agency February 22, 2008)
