D-Bone
Jul 31st '06, 12:23 PM
Scientists have identified two ancient reptiles which swam in ice-cold waters off Australia 115 million years ago and are among the first of their kind to be found from the period soon after the Jurassic era, researchers said Friday.
The discoveries ? dubbed Umoonasaurus and Opallionectes ? belonged to a group of animals called plesiosaurs, long-necked marine reptiles that lived during the time of the dinosaurs.
Researchers, led by paleontologist Benjamin Kear and a team from the University of Australia and South Australian Museum, identified the new species after piecing together fossils from 30 individuals collected from an opal mine over the past 30 years.
Read More: http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2006/07/28/ancientreptiles_ani.html?category=animals&guid=20060728130000&dcitc=w19-502-ak-0000
The discoveries ? dubbed Umoonasaurus and Opallionectes ? belonged to a group of animals called plesiosaurs, long-necked marine reptiles that lived during the time of the dinosaurs.
Researchers, led by paleontologist Benjamin Kear and a team from the University of Australia and South Australian Museum, identified the new species after piecing together fossils from 30 individuals collected from an opal mine over the past 30 years.
Read More: http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2006/07/28/ancientreptiles_ani.html?category=animals&guid=20060728130000&dcitc=w19-502-ak-0000