Scottish scientists have completed the fossil of a 240-million-year-old “dragon” after discovering new footprints of the animal on rocks.
The 5-meter-long reptile was identified in 2003, but it took about ten years for researchers to determine that it was an oriental dinocephalosaurus, CNN reports, citing a press release from the National Museums of Scotland.
This species is particularly characterized by its long neck and curved tail.
“CNN”
“This is a magnificent specimen, complete from the tip of the tail to the tip of the nose,” explains one of the researchers, Dr. Nick Fraser, in an interview with CNN. He's curled up […] and is reminiscent of the shape of a Chinese dragon.”
“I'm speechless when I think about the function of his long-range shot,” he continues. The only explanation I have is that they were feeding in rocky waters, perhaps using their long movements to squeeze through crevices.”
The various pieces of this fossil were found in southern China in a small village in Guizhou Province.