New feathered dinosaur species identified in China

A new species of feathered dinosaurs, larger than a dog, with a crest on the head and a protruding chin, was identified in China according to a study published Thursday in the journal “Scientific Reports” of the Nature group.

Measuring 70 cm in length, including the tail, “Tongtianlong” belongs to the family of oviraptorosaures, relatives of birds theropod that lived in North America and Asia. PHOTO AFP – PHOTATU NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP – Ahao CHUANF Measuring 70 cm in length, including the tail, “Tongtianlong” belongs to the family of oviraptorosaures, relatives of birds theropod that lived in North America and Asia. PHOTO AFP –
In measuring 70 cm long , including the tail, “Tongtianlong” belongs to the family of oviraptorosaures, relatives of birds theropod that lived in North America and Asia.

With a size ranging from turkey elephant, these feathered dinosaurs had little or no teeth and probably ate eggs, shellfish, plants or hazelnuts … In total, more than 35 species have already been referenced.

The researchers found the youngest in a curious position: lying on his stomach with his legs apart on four sides, with outstretched neck and head up. Hence its name. “Tongtian” meaning “the way to heaven” . The animal was unearthed on a building site by a farmer and workers Since no statement was made at the time of excavation, it is now difficult to know why he died in that position Bambi sliding on the ice.

The fossilized remains, well preserved and dating from the late Cretaceous (72 million years), are from a Chinese region where five other oviraptorosaures species have been discovered in the past five years. According to the research team led by Lü Junchang of Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, the discovery of “Tongtianlong” shows the great diversity of oviraptorosaures in Asia at the end of the Cretaceous and helps to build a more complete picture of the last dinosaurs that populated the planet.