A multi-institutional group of scientists recognized another dinosaur species that dove up in Thailand in 2012. The group describes the location, characteristics, and condition of the fossil in their Diversity-published paper.
The fossil was uncovered at a dig site in Phu Noi, in Northern Thailand. The geographical region is known as the Phu Kradung Development. The dig site has yielded an enormous number of fossils over the long term. The research team concentrated on a well-preserved fossil embedded in stone for this new endeavor. Minimocursor phunoiensis is the new name for a species that was previously unknown.
The exploration group portrays the fossil as an “uncommonly understandable skeleton” and proposes it is one of the most well-saved dinosaurs at any point found in Southeast Asia. They viewed it as belonging to the Neornithischian clade, which were plant-eating dinosaurs.
The scientists likewise observed that the dinosaur was not yet mature when it kicked the bucket. It walked on two legs despite having four limbs. Additionally, it had a jugal boss, a bony lump on its jaw, a beak-like snout, and a long body and tail. A ridge ran along its pelvis as well. It has been dated to quite a while ago. The team thinks that the dinosaur would have been about 2 meters long when it was fully grown.
Overall, its physical characteristics suggest that it ate vegetation and could run very quickly to avoid predators. The fact that other fossils of the same kind of dinosaur have been found in the same area suggests that they were very common, according to the researchers.
The group finishes up by noticing that the investigation of the fossil is as yet in progress; a portion of its bones actually need handling, including its skull. They add that once that is finished, a lot more information will be gleaned about the dinosaur and where it fits in relation to other dinosaurs of its time.
More information: Sita Manitkoon et al, A New Basal Neornithischian Dinosaur from the Phu Kradung Formation (Upper Jurassic) of Northeastern Thailand, Diversity (2023). DOI: 10.3390/d15070851
