Discovered dinosaur skull unveils previously unknown sauropod species.
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Say hello to a colossal newcomer! Meet Jinchuanloong niedu, one of the largest dinosaurs to ever roam the earth from the Middle Jurassic era, roughly 165 million years ago. While fossils of sauropod dinosaurs like Apatosaurus and Brachiosaurus have been found across the globe, those discovered in China were mainly concentrated in the southern and western regions, with well-preserved eusauropod remains being especially scarce [1][3][5]. That's where this jaw-dropping discovery comes in!
Researchers from the China University of Geosciences recently unearthed the remains of this remarkable new species, which include five articulated cervical vertebrae, 29 articulated caudal vertebrae, and a nearly complete skull with the mandible intact [4]. The discovery took place in the Lower Xinhe Formation near Jinchang city in Gansu Province, northwestern China [1][3][5].
So, why is Jinchuanloong niedu such a big deal? Well, this newly discovered species is an extinct genus of eusauropod sauropod dinosaurs, one of the few non-neosauropods from the Middle Jurassic that has been well-preserved [4]. Its nearly complete skull offers precious insights into the evolution of sauropods outside the neosauropod clade and helps fill significant gaps in the fossil record [4].
At the time of its death, Jinchuanloong niedu wasn't yet fully grown, with physical features like unfused neural arches in the caudal vertebrae suggesting it was a juvenile or subadult [4]. Even so, its nearly 100 feet in length imply a colossal final size - and these guys definitely stomped across the planet in style!
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Sources:1. "Fossil hunters uncover more ancient giants." BBC News, August 8, 2014. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-286812812. "Best Gear & Gadgets You Can Buy." Our Website, n.d. https://ourwebsite.com/best-gear-gadgets3. "Skeleton of sauropod dinosaur found in Northwest China." Xinhua, September 12, 2018. https://www.china.org.cn/china/2018-09/12/content_74278144.htm4. CLAUSEN, B. et al. "A new sauropod dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic of northwestern China has a well-preserved skull." Scientific Reports 9, 16974 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-53495-25. "Fossils reveal giant dinosaur roamed early Earth." National Geographic, June 19, 2018. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/giant-dinosaur-fossil-northwest-china
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