A team of international scientists has published new details about an ancient reptile with an appearance reminiscent of the mythical Chinese dragon.
What it looks like: Dinocephalosaurus orientalis, which lived in China’s Triassic period some 240 million years ago, was 5 meters (16.4 feet) long and had a characteristic long neck made of 32 separate vertebrae. Its skull had a “fish-trap type of dentition” similar to that of another reptile — Tanystropheus hydroides — but having more vertebrae in the neck and torso gave it a more snake-like appearance.
What the researchers are saying: The team of scientists, who hail from China, Scotland, Germany and the U.S., emphasized the breakthrough in their recent discovery.
“This discovery allows us to see this remarkable long-necked animal in full for the very first time. It is yet one more example of the weird and wonderful world of the Triassic that continues to baffle palaeontologists,” said Dr. Nick Fraser FRSE, Keeper of Natural Sciences at National Museums Scotland. “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.”
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