Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    Menu
    Natural Sciences
    Health
    History & Humanities
    Space & Astronomy
    Technology
    Culture
    Resources
    Natural Sciences

    Physics

    • Matter and Energy
    • Quantum Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics

    Chemistry

    • Periodic Table
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Materials
    • Physical Chemistry

    Biology

    • Anatomy
    • Biochemistry
    • Ecology
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Plants and Fungi

    Geology and Paleontology

    • Planet Earth
    • Earth Dynamics
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Volcanoes
    • Dinosaurs
    • Fossils

    Animals

    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fish
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
    • Invertebrates
    • Pets
    • Conservation
    • Animals Facts

    Climate and Weather

    • Climate Change
    • Weather and Atmosphere

    Geography

    Mathematics

    Health
    • Drugs
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Human Body
    • Mind and Brain
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Wellness
    History & Humanities
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Economics
    • History
    • People
    • Sociology
    Space & Astronomy
    • The Solar System
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Planets
    • Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
    • Astronomy
    • Astrophysics
    • Cosmology
    • Exoplanets and Alien Life
    • Spaceflight and Exploration
    Technology
    • Computer Science & IT
    • Engineering
    • Inventions
    • Sustainability
    • Renewable Energy
    • Green Living
    Culture
    • Culture and Society
    • Bizarre Stories
    • Lifestyle
    • Art and Music
    • Gaming
    • Books
    • Movies and Shows
    Resources
    • How To
    • Science Careers
    • Metascience
    • Fringe Science
    • Science Experiments
    • School and Study
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → News

Construction workers discover fossil of bird-like dinosaurs, one of the last species to appear before the extinction

They named it the Mud Dragon.

Alexandru Micu by Alexandru Micu
November 16, 2016
in Archaeology, News

A recent fossil found at a building site in southern China revealed a new species of feathered dinosaur, which was nicknamed the “Mud Dragon”.

Image credits Junchang Lu.

The fossil almost went undiscovered. It was found during a school building project at a site near Ganzhou, in southern Jiangxi, China, after construction workers detonated an explosive charge. It remains in a remarkable well-preserved condition despite some damage done by the dynamite and is almost fully complete. The new, bird-like species was named Tongtianlong limosus, meaning ‘muddy dragon on the road to heaven’.

The two-legged animal belongs to a family of feathered dinosaurs called oviraptorosaurus, who gave up fangs to evolve toothless heads and sharp beaks. Some, this new species included, also had crests of bone on their heads, likely used as display pieces to attract mates and influence rivals, reminiscent of some modern birds such as the cassowary. The Mud Dragon was preserved almost intact, lying on its front legs with the wings and neck outstretched. Scientists speculate that it died in this pose after becoming mired in mud about 66-72 million years ago.

Oviraptosaurs were one of the latest species to appear — they reached their heyday just before the dinosaurs’ mass extinction. Fossil findings suggest that 15 million years before the meteor hit, this family of dinos was experiencing a population boost and was diversifying into new species. It likely was one of the last groups to diversify before the asteroid impact 66 million years ago, killing off all non-bird dinosaur species. The researchers from China and the University of Edinburgh, who studied the find, believe it will help us better understand how some of the last dinosaurs ever flourished.

“This new dinosaur is one of the most beautiful, but saddest, fossils I’ve ever seen,” said Dr. Steve Brusatte of the University of Edinburgh’s School of GeoSciences.

“But we’re lucky that the ‘Mud Dragon’ got stuck in the muck, because its skeleton is one of the best examples of a dinosaur that was flourishing during those final few million years before the asteroid came down and changed the world in an instant.”

The full paper “A Late Cretaceous diversification of Asian oviraptorid dinosaurs: evidence from a new species preserved in an unusual posture” has been published in the journal Scientific Reports.

 

Was this helpful?


Thanks for your feedback!

Related posts:
  1. Laser Can Spot Illness Before Symptoms Appear
  2. Humans caused ancient Pacific bird extinction that killed 10% of world bird population
  3. Stunning triceratops fossil discovered by chance on construction site
  4. 8 bird species have disappeared this decade or are on the brink of extinction
  5. One in five bird species in Europe is threatened by extinction
Tags: Bird-likedinosaurfossilOviraptorosaurus

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW