In a new discovery, scientists have once again found the fossil of a very unique animal. The special thing about the fossil of this 5 meter long sea animal is that despite being from the Triassic era, it is completely preserved and does not match any animal of the dinosaur era, let alone of today. The neck of this sea animal, which looked like a dragon, was exactly like that of a snake.
The fossil that has been so well preserved is from 24 million years ago and scientists are calling it a dragon. This fossil of a species of animal named Gynecephalosaurus oentalis was first seen in 2003, but its neck was unusually long.
This is from those selected fossils whose analysis has been given to scientists.
This fossil was found by a team of international scientists in Guizhou province of South China and later it was kept in the National Museum of Scotland. Scientists studied it and found that its neck was longer than the rest of its body and tail combined, which could bend easily, which would have given it a great advantage in hunting.
Such long necked animals existed only in the Triassic era. (Symbolic photo: Shutterstock)
Scientists say that like always, this time the fossil of a Triassic animal has surprised. They say that this animal is similar to Tynastrius hydroids, which itself is an animal of the Middle Triassic era. Both the animals are similar in size and even diet. But Dicephalosaurus had more spines in its neck and that is why it looked more like a snake. But the most surprising thing is that this kind of animal was never seen even in the era of dinosaurs.
Also read: Snakes evolved from legless lizards, this happened very fast, do you know how?
Researchers say that this reptilian animal used to be adapted to the oceanic lifestyle. Fossils of fish have also been found in the stomach part of its fossils. Researchers have published this information in Earth and Environmental Science: Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
,
Tags: Amazing news, Bizarre news, OMG News, Weird news
FIRST PUBLISHED: February 25, 2024, 17:51 IST
