What could be more famous than the dinosaurs from "Jurassic Park"? Its ancestors, of course! A 201-million-year-old dinosaur fossil was unearthed in the UK in 2014 and the complete details of the investigation have finally been released.
The dinosaurs, which was was named Dracoraptor hanigani or "dragon thief" was said to be much like the Tyrannosaurus rex as it comes from the carnivorous therapoda group.
Researchers from Portsmouth University say the fossil is among the most complete specimen from the said time period. "Approximately 40 percent of a skeleton including cranial and postcranial remains representing a new genus and species of basal neotheropod dinosaur is described," the authors wrote.
Scientists believe that the dinosaur stood around 70 centimeters (2.29 feet) tall and is about 200 centimeters (6.56 feet) in length.
The authors also think that the dinosaur lived approximately 201.3 million years ago. The researchers were able to come up with a precise age because the specimen was found in between the adequately documented ammonite and conodont fossils. With this data, the dragon thief is considered to have lived during the earliest part of the Jurassic, right after the Triassic.
The fossils were unearthed at Lavernock Point near Cardiff in Wales, UK.
Co-author Steven Vidovic says the specimen was initially found by amateur fossil collectors Rob and Nick Hanigan. He added that Rob was about to get inside the car when he looked at the cliff fall and found the fossil. Nick assisted Rob during the various return trips to the area.
For corresponding author Dr David Martill, it is fitting to consult Rob and Nick in naming the dinosaur. He and his colleagues ask for a possible dinosaur name from the duo, who suggested "Dracoraptor." The word comes from "draco," which means "dragon" and "raptor," which means "thief."
Theropod dinosaurs are highly unusual in the Lower Jurassic. Majority of reports only yielded fragmentary fossils. With this, scientists have limited knowledge about these species, especially at a time when there are indications that the said dinosaurs were transforming swiftly.
The study was published in the PLOS One journal on Wednesday, Jan. 20.
