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A rare find has revealed the secrets of the evolution of oviraptorosaurs.
Chinese paleontologists discovered a new species of ancient dinosaurs that inhabited the Earth about 110 million years ago. As reported in the scientific journal Cretaceous Research, the discovery was made in northern China in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
The new species was named Yuanyanglong bainian and belongs to the group Oviraptorosaurs - medium-sized two-legged dinosaurs that were close relatives of modern birds. They were distinguished by a short skull and a specific structure of the pelvis.
In the summer of 2021, scientists found two well-preserved skeletons with skulls in the Maortu area in western Inner Mongolia. Features of the bone structure indicate that these dinosaurs could have lived in swampy areas. This is evidenced by the unique structure of the hind limbs, similar to that of modern marsh birds.
Gastroliths were also an interesting find - pebbles that animals swallowed for better digestion of food, similar to what modern birds do. This discovery helps to better understand the nutritional characteristics of ancient reptiles.
The discovery is particularly important because it is the first finding of Early Cretaceous oviraptorosaurs in the Gobi Desert region. It fills gaps in our understanding of the evolution and lifestyle of this group of dinosaurs, which includes more than 40 different species found mainly in Asia and North America.
According to the researchers, the new species shows intermediate features between the earliest and later representatives of oviraptorosaurs, which helps to better understand their evolution and adaptation to different living conditions.
