Sparrow-Sized Pterodactyl Found

Researchers believe Darwinopterus is proof of modular evolution

(NEWSER) - Scientists have discovered the remains of a flying reptile in China that they believe represents the "missing link" in a controversial theory of evolution. The reptile—named Darwinopterus in honor of Charles Darwin—lived some 160 million years ago and has features from both early, short-tailed pterodactyls and their huge, long-tailed descendants. "It’s as if someone said, ‘Let’s nail these two together and make a sort of chimera; that’ll really confuse everybody," one scientist said. More»

7,600 fossils dug up, including biggest hadrosaur on record

(NEWSER) - Scientists in eastern China have uncovered the largest collection of dinosaur fossils in the world, they say. They’ve pulled some 7,600 fossils from a 980-foot-long pit over the past 7 months, including what could be the biggest duck-billed hadrosaur ever discovered, at more than 65 feet long, state media said. The trove is in the Shandong province city of Zhucheng, called China’s “Dinosaur City” for its many other finds, Reuters reports. More»

(NEWSER) - Chinese villagers in Henan province dug up a ton of fossilized dinosaur bones, using them to make traditional medicines, including soup and poultices. The villagers, not entirely inaccurately, believed that they were ‘dragon bones’ from flying dragons. Once they learned of their value to paleontologists, the villagers donated the uneaten bones to the Chinese Academy of Sciences. More»