Scottish scientists discover ‘very strange’ fossilized ‘Chinese dragon’ that is 240 million years old

Scientists announced Friday that they have discovered the fossilized remains of a 240-million-year-old aquatic reptile called the “Chinese dragon.”

The ancient creature was named because of its long, snake-like appearance and the fact that the Scottish team behind the discovery found it in China.

Although the fossilized skeleton was found curled up, measurements indicated that the creature was probably about five meters long, or 16.4 feet from nose to tail.

However, the bones were not the only ones in the paleontological find.

The well-preserved fish bones were also found in the stomach area, indicating it was an aquatic predator.

The creature whose scientific name is Dinocephalosaurus orientalis, had an extraordinarily long neck.

Scientists counted as many as 32 separate cervical vertebral bones.

Nick Fraser, head of natural sciences at National Museums Scotland, told BBC News that the specimen is ‘a very strange animal’.

By comparison, most mammals have only seven cervical vertebrae, and even the famous long-necked dinosaur Brachiosaurus had only thirteen.

This unique anatomy made the animal’s neck longer than its body and tail combined.

With its long neck, Dinocephalosaurus orientalis draws a comparison to another strange marine reptile called Tanystrofeus hydroidessaid scientists.

This prehistoric beast lived at the same time – the Middle Triassic – in modern-day Europe and China.

“Both reptiles were of similar size and share several skull features, including fish trap teeth,” a statement said. ‘However, Dinocephalosaurus is unique because it has many more vertebrae in both the neck and torso, giving the animal a much more snake-like appearance.’

Scientists suspect that the Chinese dragon was a stealth fighter. Previous evidence suggests the reptile was born alive, unlike most reptiles

The Chinese dragon was originally identified in 2003, but it wasn’t until now that scientists witnessed its true length, as several fewer vertebrae were found during that first excavation.

Besides the long neck and the belly full of fish, D. orientalis also turned out to have flippers.

Scientists suspect it was a stealthy hunter, stalking its prey before snatching them away with its mouth full of sharp teeth.

Even though it bears a strong resemblance to the long-necked pleisiosaurs that lived about 40 million years later – and which inspired the Loch Ness Monster – scientists said it was not actually closely related.

This is the holotype of Dinocephalosaurus Orientalis, a well-preserved specimen that shows its features so clearly that other identifications can be made from it. The animal’s sharp teeth, which extend beyond its jaw, were clearly adept at grabbing prey.

The well-preserved remains of Dinocephalosaurus Orientalis show its long neck, complete with 32 vertebrae. This aquatic reptile’s neck was longer than its tail and body combined.

“This discovery allows us to see this remarkable long-necked animal in its entirety for the very first time,” said Nick Fraser, head of natural sciences at National Museums Scotland, in a statement rack.

‘It is yet another example of the strange and wonderful world of the Triassic that continues to baffle paleontologists.

“We are sure it will capture the imagination of the world with its striking appearance, reminiscent of the tall, serpentine, mythical Chinese Dragon.”

A fascinating feature of this animal that has already captured the imagination is the fact that it seemed to be born alive.

In 2017, Chinese scientists discovered a fossil of the same species with another fully intact individual in its ribcage.

Another image of the remains of the ‘Chinese dragon’ shows its extraordinarily long neck, which scientists suspect helped it sneak up on its prey without noticing the movement of its fins.

A close-up of the animal’s fins shows that the animal felt at home in the water. Despite being a reptile and breathing air, this species, like sea turtles, lived in the water.

Its head was facing forward, which meant it wasn’t being eaten; most predators eat their prey with the head forward, so that it falls down more easily.

This discovery turned scientists’ knowledge of reptiles upside down and provided previously unavailable evidence about the animal group’s reproductive biology.

Before the new find, an international team from Scotland, Germany, China and the US had studied the fossil for ten years before announcing their findings. findingspublished today in Earth and Environmental Sciences Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

The find highlights how rich the fossil evidence in China is, Fraser told the BBC.

“And every time we look into these deposits, we find something new.”