Paleontologists Uncover Remains of โคa Possibly 29-Meter Longโฃ dinosaur in china
Recentโ research published in Scientific Reports details the discovery โof fossilized โremains โคin Suining,China,belonging to a previously unknown sauropod dinosaur,Tangnanlong zhimingi.The find offers new insights into the evolutionโข adn global distribution of these giant, long-necked creatures.
Tangnanlong zhimingi is โคidentified as a member of the Mamenchisauridae family, a group characterized โขby remarkably lightweight skeletons for their immense size. A key feature of theโ tangnanlong โ fossil is the presence of air-filled spaces within the bones, a โstructural adaptation that reduced weight withoutโ compromisingโ strength – a commonโ trait among largeโค sauropods. Researchers also noted the presence of large shoulder blades and reinforced spines, further โindicatingโ the dinosaurโข was built toโข support ample weight.
While the fossil is incomplete, consistingโฃ of โขthree vertebrae, six tail vertebrae, a portion of a shoulder bone, and several โคleg bones, scientists were able toโฃ estimate the dinosaur’s overall length.โ By comparing the discovered bonesโ – โspecificallyโ the โฃscapula (shoulder blade) and fibula (calf bone) – to those ofโ other known Mamenchisauridae, theyโค estimate Tangnanlong reached a length of approximately 22 to 29 meters, โpotentially โคmaking it โฃone of the largest land animalsโข in Earth’s history.
The discovery site, withinโข the Suining Formation, revealsโค a prehistoric ecosystem that once supported a community of giant sauropods. The sediment layer, composed of purple-red mudstone and sandstone, shows evidence of ripple marks, suggesting the area was once a lakeside habitat. further supporting this, โthe presence of freshwater bivalves, conchostracans, and turtles within the same rock layers points to a Jurassic wetland capable of sustaining massive herbivore life.The fossil’s preservation suggests the animal died near where it lived, indicating a stable, local โขecosystem.
The findings also contribute to โคthe ongoing debate surrounding the โฃ”Eastโ Asian isolation hypothesis,” which proposes thatโค Eastโค Asia was geographically isolatedโค during the Jurassic period.The presence of Mamenchisauridae members outside of asia, such as Wamweracaudia keranjei found in Tanzania, suggests a broader global distribution.
“The latest findings proveโข Mamenchisauridae is not just an โEast Asian group,” explained lead researcher Xuefang Wei. “They apparently โคspread globally during the Late Jurassic and giant sauropods lived in โsimilar environments on many continents simultaneously occurring.”
(Source: Earth.com and Scientific โคReports)