Re: New Shandong Dinosaur Discoveries

[XingLida <xinglida@gmail.com>]

Y, A specimen of Centrosaurinae sp. with 3-metre long of skull was found.

2008/12/29  <acp002@mcdaniel.edu>:
> This looked interesting, especially considering the mention of a "2 m skull 
> of a large ceratopsian."
>
> From: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-12/29/content_10576618.htm
>
>
>  Experts: Shandong dinosaur fossil field "world's largest"
> www.chinaview.cn 2008-12-29 20:01:03
>
>    JINAN, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- A dinosaur fossil field discovered this year in 
> eastern China appears to be the largest in the world, a paleontologist told 
> Xinhua on Monday.
>
>    More than 7,600 fossils have been discovered so far in Zhucheng City in 
> eastern Shandong Province and the number is climbing, said Zhao Xijin, the 
> paleontologist in charge of the project.
>
>    Zhao is from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and 
> Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
>
>    "The discoveries are expected to contribute to research on the mystery of 
> dinosaur extinction," Zhao said. He added that the fossils dated mainly from 
> the Late Cretaceous of the Mesozoic Period, when dinosaurs became extinct.
>
>    The city has a major field of large hadrosaurus fossils, discovered in the 
> 1960s by a Chinese oil expedition. More than 50 tons of fossils have been 
> discovered since then.
>
>    The world's largest hadrosaurus fossil was found here in the 1980s and 
> exhibited in the local museum.
>
>    A new fossil site was found during another mining expedition in March in 
> Longdu, Shunwang, Jiayue and Zhigou Towns. One field in Longdu is 300meters 
> long by 10m wide and 5m deep. More than 3,000 fossils have been found at that 
> site, among which new genera or species might be found, Zhao said.
>
>    A 2m skull of a large ceratopsian was found here, the first such discovery 
> outside of North America, said Xu Xing, researcher of the Institute of 
> Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology.
>
>    In the 15 sub-fields, other new genera of ankylosaurus, tyrannosaurus and 
> ceolurus were also found, Xu said.
>
>    Zhao said the fossils had only the slimmest chance to have survived all 
> these years. According to current research, the region might have been a 
> watery area with abundant grass. That would have made it an ideal habitat for 
> duck-billed dinosaurs, Zhao said.
>
>    The geologists said there might have been a volcanic eruption that was 
> fatal to the dinosaurs and later a flood that brought the fossils to their 
> resting place.
>
>    Mining had been suspended because of weather but would resume in the 
> spring, Zhao said.
>
>    Research on the findings would be published at the end of next year, he 
> said. A fossil park will be built in the region, local authorities said.
>