Oldest vegetarian dinosaur fossil found in Jaisalmer, dating older than China

New Delhi. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Roorkee and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) have found the oldest fossil remains of a long-necked herbivorous dinosaur in Jaisalmer, suggesting that India was a major center for the evolution of dinosaurs. This species of dinosaur is about 16.7 million years old, it has been named Therosaurus indicus because these fossils have been found in the Thar Desert of western India.

This dinosaur has been described in a magazine called ‘Scientific Reports’. Its ribs, neck, trunk and tail and parts of the spinal cord are depicted in it. The thoracic spine is distinctive, with deep, long fossae on the sides and under the surface, and visible spikes at the top of the spine. Researchers said that among the species of dinosaurs, Therosaurus is quite ancient.

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Earlier research on dinosaurs has revealed that the oldest dinosaur was from China (about 166-164 million years old) and the ancestors of dinosaurs are expected to be present in Asia and America. The researchers said that the discovery of the oldest fossil remains of dinosaurs suggests that India was a major center for the evolution of dinosaurs.

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Tags: Dinosaurs, Rajasthan news