Scientists have uncovered a remarkably complete new fossil of a 5-meter-long aquatic reptile from the Triassic period.
The creature dates back 240 million years and is called a “dragon” because of its extremely long neck.
The species, first described in 2003, is called Dinocephalosaurus orientalis.
This spectacular new fossil has allowed scientists to see the full anatomy of this bizarre prehistoric beast.
Dr. Nick Fraser of the National Museums of Scotland, who was part of the international team that studied the fossil, said that this is the first time scientists have been able to see it in full and described it as “a very strange animal”.
The fossil was discovered in ancient limestone deposits in southern China.
The Triassic or Triassic period is the first subdivision of Mesozoic Time, a period lasting about 50 million years.
It is considered to have started 251.902 million years ago and ended 201.36 million years ago.
