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180m-year-old Dinosaur Fossils Discovered in SW China

Dec 09, 2015

Two dinosaur fossils from the Jurassic period have been discovered in Yunnan Province, southwest China.

The two fossils have been identified as Lufengosaurus Magnus and Lufengosaurus Huenei by the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology. They were discovered during road work in Lufeng County, Yunnan Province, last month.

The Lufengosaurus Magnus fossil is more than five meters long. With three sacral vertebras, 13 dorsal vertebras, 22 coccygeal vertebras and complete hind legs, it is estimated to be nine meters long in full length, explained Wang Tao, director of the department for geological heritage protection under the Lufeng Land Resources Bureau.

The other fossil was found just 500 meters away. It features two preserved shanks, two dorsal vertebras and two coccygeal vertebras.

"We will continue in situ conservation once we have built a museum at the excavation site," Wang told Xinhua. (Xinhua)

An archaeologist measures newly-discoverd Lufengosaurus fossil in Lufeng County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 7, 2015. Two dinosaur fossils were unearthed in Lufeng County a month ago and they were identified to be fossils of Lufengosaurus magnus and Lufengosaurus huenei, which lived about 180 million years ago. Lufengosaurus is a long-necked, plant-eating dinosaur known for its gigantic size, with adults reaching 30 feet (9 meters)long. (Xinhua/Yao Bing)

A paw of a newly-discoverd Lufengosaurus fossil is spotted in Lufeng County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 7, 2015. Two dinosaur fossils were unearthed in Lufeng County a month ago and they were identified to be fossils of Lufengosaurus magnus and Lufengosaurus huenei, which lived about 180 million years ago. Lufengosaurus is a long-necked, plant-eating dinosaur known for its gigantic size, with adults reaching 30 feet (9 meters)long. (Xinhua/Yao Bing)

An archaeologist measures newly-discoverd Lufengosaurus fossil in Lufeng County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 7, 2015. Two dinosaur fossils were unearthed in Lufeng County a month ago and they were identified to be fossils of Lufengosaurus magnus and Lufengosaurus huenei, which lived about 180 million years ago. Lufengosaurus is a long-necked, plant-eating dinosaur known for its gigantic size, with adults reaching 30 feet (9 meters)long. (Xinhua/Yao Bing)

Newly-discoverd Lufengosaurus fossil is seen in Lufeng County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 7, 2015. Two dinosaur fossils were unearthed in Lufeng County a month ago and they were identified to be fossils of Lufengosaurus magnus and Lufengosaurus huenei, which lived about 180 million years ago. Lufengosaurus is a long-necked, plant-eating dinosaur known for its gigantic size, with adults reaching 30 feet (9 meters)long. (Xinhua/Yao Bing)

Newly-discoverd Lufengosaurus fossil is seen in Lufeng County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 7, 2015. Two dinosaur fossils were unearthed in Lufeng County a month ago and they were identified to be fossils of Lufengosaurus magnus and Lufengosaurus huenei, which lived about 180 million years ago. Lufengosaurus is a long-necked, plant-eating dinosaur known for its gigantic size, with adults reaching 30 feet (9 meters)long. (Xinhua/Yao Bing)

Newly-discoverd Lufengosaurus fossil is seen in Lufeng County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 7, 2015. Two dinosaur fossils were unearthed in Lufeng County a month ago and they were identified to be fossils of Lufengosaurus magnus and Lufengosaurus huenei, which lived about 180 million years ago. Lufengosaurus is a long-necked, plant-eating dinosaur known for its gigantic size, with adults reaching 30 feet (9 meters)long. (Xinhua/Yao Bing)

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