Sept. 2, 2009 -- Remains of a dinosaur, nicknamed the "giraffe of the Mesozoic" due to its long neck and forelimbs, were recently discovered in China, according to a paper in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. The dinosaur, Qiaowanlong kangxii, is the first Early Cretaceous brachiosaur ever found in China. Its name refers to a famous Qing Dynasty emperor, Kangxi, and also contains the words for "bridge," "bend in a stream," and "dragon," references to the site as well as a dream the emperor is said to have had. Brachiosaurs -- a family of plant-eating sauropods -- are often quite big. One of the largest mounted skeletons in the world is a Brachiosaurus at the Humboldt Museum in Berlin. The new species is "relatively small" by comparison. Co-author Hai-Lu You told Discovery News that the Chinese dinosaur stood at about 39.3 feet long, 9.8 feet tall, and weighed around 10 tons. Related Content:
"As a member of the brachiosaurid (family), it has a long neck and relatively long forelimbs," added Hai-Lu, a scientist at the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences in Beijing. Hai-Lu and colleague Da-Qing Li analyzed the dinosaur's skeletal remains, which were excavated at the Yujingzi Basin in northwestern Gansu Province. The dinosaur dates to 100 million years ago. The researchers determined that the dinosaur possessed a bifurcated, or two-part, neural spine. These are known in other sauropods, but this is the first time the feature has been identified in a brachiosaur. The structure of its spine, and the rest of the dinosaur's bones, suggest that "its neck should have been held aloft, with a more vertical than horizontal behavior," Hai Lu said. That counters some other recent arguments about sauropods, indicating their ultra long necks were almost parallel to the ground, sweeping back and forth like a metal detector. Instead, Hai-Lu suggests the animals fed on leaves and other plant materials high above the ground, giving them a less competitive food niche. Get More NewsSpiders, Scorpions Among World's Oldest CreaturesMany creepy crawlies have been on Earth much longer than previously believed.Blood-Sucking Vampire Bats Sing DuetsWhite-winged vampire bats "harmonize" with separated roost mates.Oldest Hebrew Writing Possibly FoundAncient inscriptions on a 3,000-year-old pottery shard could make history.Rare, Prehistoric-Age Reptile Found in N.Z.A tuatara has been spotted on the New Zealand mainland for the first time in 200 years.Iceman Has No Living RelativesOetzi, the 5,300 year-old frozen mummy, left no living genetic legacy.SLIDE SHOW: Landscapes of TerrorWhat makes a place feel scary? There are scientific explanations.It's Official: People Are Warming the PolesHumans are conclusively to blame for polar warming, say scientists.Eight-Armed Animal Preceded DinosaursWhat may be one of Earth's first animals was no bigger than a coaster and had eight arms.Phoenicians Live on in People's GenesOne in 17 Mediterranean men may be descended from ancient Phoenicians.Pesticides, Fertilizers Linked to Frog DeclineA pesticide is found to promote parasites among amphibians.Hubble Telescope Taking Photos AgainThe Hubble Space Telescope is once again snapping stunning photos of the universe.Andean Mummy Hairs Show Hallucinogen UseScientists find direct evidence of hallucinogenic drug use among ancient Andeans.Opals on Mars Reveal Planet's Long Wet PastOpals found on Mars suggest the planet has been wet for much longer. |
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