The Discovery of a 240 Million-Year-Old Sea Creature

In 2003, scientists first identified a 16-foot-long⁣ reptile that lived in the oceans during the Middle Triassic Period.‌ Recently,​ a more ‌complete fossil has provided a better understanding of what this creature ​looked ⁣like⁤ millions of years ago.

A ‌team of⁣ researchers⁢ from around the world ​discovered an ancient sea creature, Dinocephalosaurus orientalis, in Guizhou Province, southern China. While the reptile was‍ initially recognized in​ 2003, the⁣ newly discovered specimens ​housed at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have allowed scientists to build on their existing knowledge and gain a more complete understanding of this remarkable creature.

Professor Li Chun from the Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology stated in a​ press release from the National Museum of Scotland, “This has been an international effort. Working⁣ together with colleagues from ⁤the United States​ of America, ​the United Kingdom, and Europe, we used​ newly discovered specimens to build on ‌our existing⁢ knowledge of this animal. Among all the extraordinary finds‍ we have made in⁢ the ​Triassic of Guizhou Province, Dinocephalosaurus stands out as the most ⁢remarkable.”

Dinocephalosaurus orientalis. Image © National Museums Scotland.

Dinocephalosaurus orientalis had 32 separate neck vertebrae, giving it ⁣an incredibly long neck. ‌The researchers have compared it to Tanystropheus hydroides,⁣ which lived around the same time as Dinocephalosaurus orientalis. While both ⁣reptiles have similar skull features, such as fish trap-like⁤ teeth, Dinocephalosaurus has more⁣ vertebrae in its neck and torso, ⁣giving it a ‌snake-like appearance.

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Dr. Nick Fraser FRSE, Keeper of Natural Sciences at National Museums Scotland, stated, “This discovery allows us to see this remarkable long-necked animal in full for the very first time. It is yet another ⁤example of the weird and wonderful world of the Triassic that continues to⁢ baffle ⁣paleontologists. We are certain⁤ that ⁤it will ‌capture imaginations across the globe due to its striking appearance, reminiscent of the long ‌and snake-like, mythical Chinese‌ Dragon.”

The⁣ complete paper, “Dinocephalosaurus orientalis Li, 2003: ⁤a remarkable marine⁣ archosauromorph ‌from the Middle Triassic of southwestern China” can be found on the Cambridge University Press​ website.