A fossil found in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, has been identified as that of a new species of mosasaur -- the apex ocean predator during the Cretaceous period.
The six-meter-long fossilized skeleton was discovered in 2006 in a stratum dating back to about 72 million years ago.
A research team led by University of Cincinnati Associate Professor Konishi Takuya examined the fossil in detail, and announced its findings this month in a British paleontology journal.
The fossil has features not seen in other mosasaur skeletons, such as well-developed front flippers and a possible dolphin-like dorsal fin, judging from the shape of the spine.
The new species has been named Wakayama "blue dragon," or "Wakayama Soryu," after where it was found.
The new species of the extinct giant marine reptile is thought to have swam around the oceans like turtles, using its front flippers.
The team describes the fossil as a valuable reference that shows the diverse evolution of mosasaurs.
Misaki Akihiro, of the Kitakyushu Museum of Natural History and Human History, found the fossil 17 years ago. He is now a member of Konishi's team.
Misaki said the place where the new species was unearthed is where he had been digging for fossils since he was in grade school. He added that he is profoundly moved to learn it was a new species and named after his home prefecture.
The six-meter-long fossilized skeleton was discovered in 2006 in a stratum dating back to about 72 million years ago.
A research team led by University of Cincinnati Associate Professor Konishi Takuya examined the fossil in detail, and announced its findings this month in a British paleontology journal.
The fossil has features not seen in other mosasaur skeletons, such as well-developed front flippers and a possible dolphin-like dorsal fin, judging from the shape of the spine.
The new species has been named Wakayama "blue dragon," or "Wakayama Soryu," after where it was found.
The new species of the extinct giant marine reptile is thought to have swam around the oceans like turtles, using its front flippers.
The team describes the fossil as a valuable reference that shows the diverse evolution of mosasaurs.
Misaki Akihiro, of the Kitakyushu Museum of Natural History and Human History, found the fossil 17 years ago. He is now a member of Konishi's team.
Misaki said the place where the new species was unearthed is where he had been digging for fossils since he was in grade school. He added that he is profoundly moved to learn it was a new species and named after his home prefecture.
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Summary
A six-meter-long fossil discovered in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, dating back to about 72 million years ago, has been identified as a new species of mosasaur, an ocean predator from the Cretaceous period. The newly named "Wakayama blue dragon" or "Wakayaya Soryu", features unique attributes such
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ID: f7f91fa9-3eb9-4adb-94b7-313a3cc396d1
Category ID: nhk
URL: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231213_31/
Date: Dec. 13, 2023
Created: 2023/12/14 06:30
Updated: 2025/12/08 20:15
Last Read: 2023/12/14 11:11