China's Gobi desert source of rare dinosaur find

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-03-17 11:21

In this undated photo released by Project Exploration, a plaque cast of the skeletons of two ostrich-mimic dinosaur sinornithomimus are seen. In their rib cages are stomach stones and the carbonized remains of the last plants they consumed. The dinosaurs died when they were a little over one year in age. [Agencies]

Xu Xing, a professor at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing, called the findings "an important discovery" that could only have happened under a unique set of circumstances.

"Without the correct environmental conditions, these fossils would not have been found in nearly pristine condition - uncrushed or worn down," said Xu, who was not involved with the project.

The bones were spotted in 1978 by a Chinese geologist and first excavated by a Sino-Japanese team some 20 years later. That team named the dinosaurs sinornithomimus, or "Chinese bird mimic."

It wasn't until 2001 that researchers were able to unearth all 25 skeletons and examine their findings.

The sinornithomimus skeletons were brought to the University of Chicago for research and preservation but will return to China by the end of the year.

The 10-member expedition and research team included scientists from the University of Chicago, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Montana State University, the University of Michigan and Inner Mongolia's Department of Land and Resources. It was financed by the National Geographic Society.

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