Researchers discover prehistoric animal fossil in Yunnan

Recently, researchers at the Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, discovered a nearly complete skeleton of a prehistoric animal in Yunnan. It dates from the Middle Triassic limestone strata in Qujing City’s Fuyuan County. The skeleton is about two meters in length, has an armoured body, a thick neck, a long tail, sharp and indented teeth, stout limbs and webbed feet. Scientists speculate it was a fierce predator living in a coastal marine environment.

The newly discovered fossil is named Litorosuchussomnii, literally meaning alligator-like animal on a dreamy beach”. Li Chun, the researcher in charge of the excavation project, said that it was so named because he dreamed of a giant alligator-like animal walking on a beach one night not long after the fossil was discovered.

Studies show that this animal is a very primitive archosaur, which originally means “dominant reptile”. Archosaurs include the dinosaurs, pterosaurs and alligators that we are all familiar with. Prior to the advent of the earliest dinosaurs, various primitive archosaurs were already thriving on the planet.

The discovery suggests that archosaurs, a crucial step in the evolution of reptiles, lived a semi-aquatic life in a marine environment at a very early stage. 

Researchers discover prehistoric animal fossil in Yunnan

Recently, researchers at the Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, discovered a nearly complete skeleton of a prehistoric animal in Yunnan. It dates from the Middle Triassic limestone strata in Qujing Citys Fuyuan County. The skeleton is about two meters in length, has an armoured body, a thick neck, a long tail, sharp and indented teeth, stout limbs and webbed feet. Scientists speculate it was a fierce predator living in a coastal marine environment. The newly discovered fossil is named Litorosuchussomnii, literally meaning alligator-like animal on a dreamy beach. Li Chun, the researcher in charge of the excavation project, said that it was so named because he dreamed of a giant alligator-like animal walking on a beach one night not long after the fossil was discovered. Studies show that this animal is a very primitive archosaur, which originally means dominant reptile. Archosaurs include the dinosaurs, pterosaurs and alligators that we are all familiar with. Prior to the advent of the earliest dinosaurs, various primitive archosaurs were already thriving on the planet. The discovery suggests that archosaurs, a crucial step in the evolution of reptiles, lived a semi-aquatic life in a marine environment at a very early stage.