'Once in a lifetime find': Dinosaur tail discovered trapped in amber (2016)
A 99-million-year-old dinosaur tail with feathers was discovered preserved in amber, marking the first time part of a mummified dinosaur skeleton has been found in such a state. The specimen, belonging to a young coelurosaur, was uncovered by a Chinese paleontologist at a market in northern Myanmar. The find provides new insights into dinosaur appearance, supporting evidence that many dinosaurs had feathers rather than scales.
- ▪The dinosaur tail was found in amber weighing 6.5 grams and dates back 99 million years.
- ▪The preserved feathers suggest the creature was chestnut brown and white in color.
- ▪No genetic material was found in the amber, ruling out the possibility of extracting dinosaur DNA as depicted in 'Jurassic Park'.
- ▪The tail belongs to a young coelurosaur, a relative of velociraptors and tyrannosaurus.
- ▪Fragments of bird wings from the dinosaur era had previously been found in amber, but this is the first mummified dinosaur skeleton part discovered in amber.
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window.CNN.contentModel.leadingMediaType = 'video'; window.CNN.contentModel.isVideoCollection = false; Video Ad Feedback First preserved dinosaur tail found 0:58 • Source: CNN First preserved dinosaur tail found 0:58 Ancient creatures Animal stories See all topics Facebook Tweet Email Link Threads Link Copied! Follow Story highlights Amber was destined to be piece of jewelry until scientist found it First time part of a dinosaur skeleton has been discovered in amber The tail of a 99-million-year-old dinosaur has been found entombed in amber, an unprecedented discovery that has blown away scientists. Xing Lida, a Chinese paleontologist found the specimen, the size of a dried apricot, at an amber market in northern Myanmar near the Chinese border.
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