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The discovery of a hairy dinosaur the size of a chicken is like nothing seen in nature before, say paleontologists
The discovery of a hairy dinosaur the size of a chicken is like nothing seen in nature before, say paleontologists
Sophia AnkelDec 18, 2020, 22:03 IST
A sketch of the Ubirajara jubatus.Luxquine/Wikimedia Commons
Paleontologists have discovered a newly identified species of dinosaur called
Ubijara jubatus, which is believed to have lived around 110 million years ago in what is now the northeastern part of Brazil.
The chicken-sized dinosaur has unusual features, including a long mane of hair down its back and stiff ribbon-like structures projecting from its shoulders.
Scientists Discover Dancing Chicken-Sized Dinosaur Published December 17th, 2020 - 12:37 GMT
Dancing chicken-sized dinosaur (Twitter)
Highlights Ubirajara shows us that this tendency to show off is not a uniquely avian characteristic, but something that birds inherited from their dinosaur ancestors.
A peacock-like elaborate dinosaur with a mane of yellow and brown fur down its back and long needles growing from its shoulders has been identified.
Dubbed Ubirajara jubatus indigenous Indian for Maned Lord of the Spear the creature s neck spines are unique in the fossil record and made of keratin, which is the same protein that makes up parts of our hair, nails and skin.
Messelopython freyi remains were recovered from a quarry near Darmstadt
The head and body of Messelopython freyi are almost completely preserved
Scientists have identified the world s earliest python from 47 million-year-old fossils recovered from a quarry in southwest Germany.
Remains of the new python species, called Messelopython freyi, were discovered in Messel Pit, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near the German city of Darmstadt.
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Researchers report in a new paper that the completely preserved species had a length of just over three feet (one metre).
M. freyi, both a new species and a new genus, is the oldest known fossil record of a python anywhere in the world, researchers say.
| UPDATED: 17:50, Wed, Dec 16, 2020
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The newly discovered species of snake was found by palaeontologists excavating a disused German quarry known as the Messel Pit. The UNESCO World Heritage Site, which sits about 22 miles outside of Frankfurt, has seen a wealth of fossil discoveries since the early 20th century. Researchers from the University in Sao Paolo in Brazil, Senckenberg Research Institute and State Museum of Natural History in Germany have presented their latest discovery in the journal Biology Letters.
World s earliest python identified from 47 million-year-old fossil remains phys.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from phys.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.