Dinosaur fossil found in Xinjiang

Chinese paleontologists announced Sunday that they have discovered the largest Jurassic dinosaur fossil in the country so far, in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.

Chinese paleontologists discovered the largest Jurassic dinosaur fossil in the country so far, in the northwestern region of Xinjiang. [Photo: Xinhua]

The fossil remains show that the herbivorous sauropod dinosaur was 35 meters in length, and weighed about 30 tonnes, said professor Sun Ge, head of the expedition team that made the discovery, and deputy executive director of China Research Society of Paleontology.

He told a press conference in Shanshan County, where the fossil was found, that the fossil was discovered in a stratum of the Middle Jurassic Period, about 165 million years ago.

Prior to this, the largest Jurassic dinosaur fossil discovered in China was less than 30 meters in length.

Sun said that paleontologists are continuing the excavation of the fossil, hoping to unearth a complete skeleton.

He said that team members have also unearthed a tooth fossil which apparently belonged to a carnosaur not far from the herbivorous dinosaur fossil.

"We hope the future excavation will help unveil more evidence to suggest what caused the death of this mammoth creature," he said.

The expedition team is composed of experts from Jilin University, Shenyang Normal University and Xinjiang Geological Survey Institute. They started the expedition in Shanshan in October last year.