Two students stumble on new dinosaur (with a killer cousin)
A NEW species of dinosaur with scythe-like claws and bad family connections has been discovered in China.
British student scientist Michael Pittman and an American colleague stumbled on the near-complete fossil skeleton of Linheraptor exquisitus on a field trip to Inner Mongolia.
The 8ft-long creature is related to the Velociraptor, one of the terrifying stars of Jurassic Park. Like its famous cousin, Linheraptor had a large curved claw on each foot, which may have been used to dispatch prey.
The dinosaur, which lived 75 million years ago, would have been agile and swift.
Mr Pittman said: "Jonah saw a claw protruding from the cliff face. He carefully removed it.
I told him it was from a carnivorous dinosaur, and when he agreed I'm surprised nobody in London heard us shouting."
Email to a friend
Print this page- Scottish independence: I don’t want ‘separatism’ says Sir Tom Farmer
- Leveson Inquiry: Tony Blair defends ‘working relationship’ with Rupert Murdoch
- Police investigate death of man, 31, on West Highland Way
- Craig Levein insists Scotland will recover from US thrashing
- The Rumour Mill: Monday’s football news and gossip
- Scottish independence: I don’t want ‘separatism’ says Sir Tom Farmer
- The Rumour Mill: Monday’s football news and gossip
- Craig Levein insists Scotland will recover from US thrashing
- James McPake set for Coventry talks as Hibs wait in wings
- Scottish independence: Labour voters ‘will deliver independence’
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Edinburgh
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
