Gauthier
07-23-2013, 06:10 PM
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Science Recorder | Stephanie Verkoeyen | Tuesday, July 23, 2013
The remains of a 72 million-year-old dinosaur tail have been discovered in a desert by a team of archaeologists in northern Mexico.
The research team was made up of archaeologists and students from Mexico’s National Institute for Anthropology and History (INAH), in the border state of Coahuila, and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). The fossil was identified as a originating from a hadrosaur, or duck-billed dinosaur.
According to Francisco Aguilar, INAH’s director, the 5-meter (16 foot) tail, in addition to being unusually well preserved, was the first ever to be found in Mexico. Unearthed near the small town of General Cepeda, the tail likely made up half the dinosaur’s length.
After spending 20 days in the desert, archaeologists uncovered the 50 vertebrae of the tail completely intact by slowly removing the sedimentary rock covering the fossilized remains. INAH stated that other fossilized bones were scattered around the tail, including one of the dinosaur’s hips.
According to INAH, finds involving dinosaur tail are relatively rare. With this new discovery, researchers should gain a better understanding of the hadrosaur family, particularly in study areas focused on diseases that afflicted dinosaur bones, which bear a resemblance to human bones. For example, scientists have already been able to discern that dinosaurs suffered from tumors and arthritis.
Many dinosaur remains have been found across the state of Coahuila, as well as Mexico’s other northern desert states. As Aguilar indicates, these areas have a very rich history of paleontology.
During the Cretaceous period, which came to an end approximately 65 million years ago, much of what is now considered to be central northern Mexico was located on the coast. Because of this, researchers have been able to unearth the remains of both marine and terrestrial dinosaurs.
In June 2012, locals reported the presence of the remains to INAH. After a round of initial inspections, excavation went underway earlier this month. Once fully uncovered, the tail remains will be transferred to General Cepeda for cleaning and further investigation.
Hadrosaurs are members of the ornithischian family Hadrosauridae. The family was a common herbivore in the Upper Cretaceous Period, and could generally be found in what are now Asia, Europe, and North America.
Hadrosaurs were actually the first dinosaur family to be identified in North America. Between 1855 and 1856, the first traces of fossil teeth had been discovered.
Read more: http://www.sciencerecorder.com/news/rare-full-dinosaur-tail-unearthed-in-northern-mexico/#ixzz2ZtPp1ZYw
http://prek-8.com/kidslearning/images/dino5.jpg
Science Recorder | Stephanie Verkoeyen | Tuesday, July 23, 2013
The remains of a 72 million-year-old dinosaur tail have been discovered in a desert by a team of archaeologists in northern Mexico.
The research team was made up of archaeologists and students from Mexico’s National Institute for Anthropology and History (INAH), in the border state of Coahuila, and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). The fossil was identified as a originating from a hadrosaur, or duck-billed dinosaur.
According to Francisco Aguilar, INAH’s director, the 5-meter (16 foot) tail, in addition to being unusually well preserved, was the first ever to be found in Mexico. Unearthed near the small town of General Cepeda, the tail likely made up half the dinosaur’s length.
After spending 20 days in the desert, archaeologists uncovered the 50 vertebrae of the tail completely intact by slowly removing the sedimentary rock covering the fossilized remains. INAH stated that other fossilized bones were scattered around the tail, including one of the dinosaur’s hips.
According to INAH, finds involving dinosaur tail are relatively rare. With this new discovery, researchers should gain a better understanding of the hadrosaur family, particularly in study areas focused on diseases that afflicted dinosaur bones, which bear a resemblance to human bones. For example, scientists have already been able to discern that dinosaurs suffered from tumors and arthritis.
Many dinosaur remains have been found across the state of Coahuila, as well as Mexico’s other northern desert states. As Aguilar indicates, these areas have a very rich history of paleontology.
During the Cretaceous period, which came to an end approximately 65 million years ago, much of what is now considered to be central northern Mexico was located on the coast. Because of this, researchers have been able to unearth the remains of both marine and terrestrial dinosaurs.
In June 2012, locals reported the presence of the remains to INAH. After a round of initial inspections, excavation went underway earlier this month. Once fully uncovered, the tail remains will be transferred to General Cepeda for cleaning and further investigation.
Hadrosaurs are members of the ornithischian family Hadrosauridae. The family was a common herbivore in the Upper Cretaceous Period, and could generally be found in what are now Asia, Europe, and North America.
Hadrosaurs were actually the first dinosaur family to be identified in North America. Between 1855 and 1856, the first traces of fossil teeth had been discovered.
Read more: http://www.sciencerecorder.com/news/rare-full-dinosaur-tail-unearthed-in-northern-mexico/#ixzz2ZtPp1ZYw
http://prek-8.com/kidslearning/images/dino5.jpg