Scientists discover 115-million-year-old fossil of new dinosaur species in Brazil

[Judi Lynn]

The fossil indicates that the species stemmed from a line of dinosaurs even more ancient in origin than the one that was said to have given rise to the T-Rex. The carnivores were dubbed "Aratasaurus museunacionali."



Scientists believe the newly-discovered Aratasaurus museunacionali roamed the Earth 115 million years ago


A team of Brazilian researchers announced on Friday the discovery of a 115-million-year-old fossil belonging to a previously unknown species of dinosaur in the northeastern state of Ceara.

The "Aratasaurus museunacionali" is a previously unknown species of the medium-sized theropods, meaning it had hollow bones and three-toed limbs.

According to paleontologist Juliana Sayao, the fossil of the animal, who apparently died young, indicated it already weighed around 34.25 kilos and was 3.12 meters in height.

Sayao said the discovery of the Aratasaurus will help scientists better understand the evolutionary history of the carnivorous theropods and that the discovery is also a sign that other types of carnivorous dinosaurs inhabited the region millions of years ago.

More:
https://www.dw.com/en/scientists-discover-115-million-year-old-fossil-of-new-dinosaur-species-in-brazil/a-54134961

Also posted in Science:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/122870582

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. So very cool.

[niyad]

2. Utterly fascinating. We are fortunate to have one of the Dinosaur Resource Centers here,

and it is an amazing place to visit. One of the things they talked about was the extensive preparation required before one could even begin to remove the fossil from the surrounding rock. The lab there is enormous.

This is truly a remarkable discovery.