This topic was posted , thanks NormsRevenge.
Posted on 12/26/2005 4:32:31 PM PST by NormsRevenge
BUENOS AIRES (AFP) - Argentine paleontologists have discovered the largely intact skeleton of a young titanosaurus that lived 71 million years ago.
"What's extraordinary about this is that the remains were articulated, as if the animal had fallen or lain down and remained that way. There were no signs that it was preyed on," local media reported geologist and paleontologist Bernardo Gonzalez Riga as saying.
Scientists discovered the remains of a foot "with all its toes and claws in an exceptional state of preservation," as well as the complete rear bones, tail, "and part of the pelvis," Gonzalez said.
Such finds are rare, said Gonzalez, adding that there are only one or two titanosauruses in the world with complete feet.
Gonzalez is a professor at Cuyo University, one of two universities with teams that excavated the remains.
"This now adds to that and brings new data of regional national and international relevance," he said.
The remains were discovered while German petroleum company Wintershall Energy was prospecting for oil in Nuequen province, where many paleontological discoveries have been made.
An initial examination of the remains suggest a small young titanousaurus about 10 meters (yards) long that weighed about 12 tons. The giant herbivores, which grew up to 35 meters long, lived during the late Cretaceous period (83-65 million years ago).
While the skeleton is almost complete from ribs to tale, there is no sign of the head and neck, which were likely washed away over the millennia, said Gonzalez.
The fossils were taken to the Lago Barreales Palentological Center in Neuquen for analysis, the report said.
Give it 50,000 years and they'll be digging up a Tookiesaurus!
another fossil.
Nice. But not really newsworthy enough for the ping list.
Ruhh,rohh! Who brought the Bronto-burgers?
Note to self;
Update computer date by 71 million years, check auto day-light savings time.
Change battery.
Ribs to tale = "near complete". So about 1/2 = "near complete"?
I wish the IRS would accept 1/2 as "near complete".
Yeah, I wasn't thinking that all the way through.
Herbivore does not necessarily = ruminant.... And I was thinking ruminant type tooth construction.
This topic was posted , thanks NormsRevenge.
Can’t click on the link because the article is 18 years old as you’ve already pointed out.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
