More than 66 million years ago, a feathered dinosaurs have thin legs and a bony above his head, stuck in the mud. The poor beast struggling to be free from puddles of wet soil, until finally it gave up and died. Carcass then petrified. As fossils.
Dinosaur that has the size of a donkey, known as oviraptorosaurus (ancient bird-like creature), its preservation is almost intact. It was found to be lying, chest stuck on the ground, while the neck and wings stretched taut. As with other oviraptorosaurus (a close cousin to modern birds) can not fly, but it has a toothless sharp beaks that can devour shells, plants, nuts, also eggs.
 |
| The bird-like dinosaur Tongtianlong limosus likely died after getting stuck in the mud. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1fYZiC) |
"The creature posture, with a head stand, wings outstretched on each side so the show as if it was trying to escape," said one paleontologist from the University of Edinburgh, Steve Brusatte as quoted by LiveScience on Friday, November 11, 2016.
"The signs that make us think, it got stuck in the mud and trying to get out." The fossil was discovered by Chinese construction workers a few years ago in Jiangxi Province. The workers almost blew the fossils to pieces by using dynamite. At that time, they were installing explosives in the process of making the foundation for a high school building.
 |
| The posture of Tongtianlong limosus suggests it was stuck in the mud, and an analysis of the bones shows it was neither attacked nor scavenged by other animals. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1fYZiC) |
"Dynamite destroys a bit the back of the fossil, but fortunately the other parts survived," added Brusatte. "We almost never know the existence of these dinosaurs." The construction workers then notify their findings to the museum. Then Chinese paleontologists examined. The findings were then published in the scientific journal Nature Scientific.
Because of its death in the middle of the mud, the researchers named it 'Tongtianlong limosus' which could be interpreted as 'muddy dragon on the road to heaven'. Brusatte added, Tongtianlong limosus similarly sized cow or donkey.
 |
| A conservator works alongside the Tongtianlong limosus skeleton. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1fYZiC) |
"Basically they are the last group of dinosaurs that evolved before the asteroid hits the Earth," he said further. The researchers from China and the United Kingdom argues, the fossil has important meaning to provides insight into the evolutionary transition from dinosaurs to birds.
Because, "modern birds descended from dinosaurs," Brusatte said as quoted by the BBC. "Dinosaurs like Tongtianlong limosus provide the clues related to the ancestors of modern birds," he added. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LIVESCIENCE]
Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone
