Scientists Discover 240 Million-Year-Old Dragon Fossils, Not Just Myths?

Scientists Discover 240 Million-Year-Old Dragon Fossil, Not Just a Myth?

Dream - The Chinese tradition believes that every entering of the new year is represented by one of the 12 animals that represent specific times in Chinese astrology, commonly known as zodiac. The Chinese New Year of 2024 falls under the zodiac sign of Wood Dragon. Therefore, this year 2024 is also referred to as the 'Year of the Dragon'. In this Year of the Dragon, a group of scientists discovered a complete fossil of a water reptile resembling the Chinese Dragon, as its shape resembles a snake with a long neck.

Scientists Discover 240 Million-Year-Old Dragon Fossils, Not Just Myths?

The fossil, which has the Latin name Dinocephalosaurus orientalis, originated from 240 million years ago in the Triassic period, and was discovered by a team of scientists in Guizhou Province, Southern China.

Found Complete

Some of the fossils were first identified in 2003. However, its recent discovery revealed more complete information. The aquatic reptile has a length of about 16 feet and allows scientists to describe this creature in its entirety for the first time.

Professor Li Chun from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology said that this fossil discovery is an international effort carried out by researchers from various countries, such as Scotland, Germany, America, and China.

"Living in the Sea"

The research team also studied this peculiar reptile at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Beijing.

According to researchers, the inside of the fossil resembles a finned limb and a well-preserved fish, with indications that this reptile has adapted to living in the ocean.

"Kami menggunakan spesimen yang baru ditemukan yang disimpan di Chinese Academy of Sciences untuk membangun pengetahuan kami mengenai hewan ini. Di antara penemuan luar biasa yang telah kami lakukan di Trias Provinsi Guizhou, Dinocephalosaurus mungkin merupakan (penemuan) yang paling luar biasa,"

The text in 'Bahasa' translates to: "Chun's words are quoted from npr.org."

Researcher who participated in a post-doctoral program at the Stuttgart State Museum of Natural History, Stephan Spiekman, stated that the research team hopes that future studies can reveal more about the evolution of the animal group, especially how the extremely long neck can function.

In a study published by Cambridge University Press, new information obtained about the discovery of the titu is that its neck has 32 separate vertebrae and is longer than the combined length of its body and tail. Therefore, there is a possibility that the size and number of bones that the animal has play an important role in its feeding process during its lifetime. Report: Nisya Aprilya

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