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西伯利亞發現新型恐龍化石身高或達20米
俄羅斯科學家近日宣布在西利比亞發現新種恐龍，據估計身高可能高達20米，的是歷來所發現最大型恐龍之一。
俄科學家2008年在西伯利亞西部發現恐龍化石，起初認為是屬於一種巨型草食恐龍，但經多年分析後確認該化石屬於全新品種恐龍，是歷來最大型恐龍之一。據估計，這種恐龍生活於約一億年前的白堊紀晚期，身高可達20米，與體長達40米、體重達100噸的泰坦巨龍(雷龍)有關。
該恐龍化石是俄羅斯托姆斯克州立大學的古生物學家，在基亞河沿岸的岩石層發現，為了不破壞周圍的其他古生物化石，研究人員只抽取碎片。新品種恐龍被稱為“西伯利亞龍”(Sibirosaurus)，專家認為，1995年在同一地點發現的恐龍腳化石，也是屬於相同品種。
One of the biggest dinosaur discovered in Siberian
 圖片附件: Sibirosaurus.jpg (2015-3-31 05:30 AM, 85.48 K)
Monster: The 'Sibirosaurus' is closely related to the colossal Titanosaur, scientists say
Scientists claim to have discovered a new species of dinosaur that was one of the largest that ever roamed the planet.
Experts from Russia who have been working on mystery fossils found on the banks of a Siberian river seven years ago have sensationally reached the verdict that the dinosaur is a completely new discovery.
They say the giant beast lived 100 million years ago and is related to the Titanosaur, which was estimated to have weighed up to 100 tonnes and was up to 40 metres long - the same as NINE double-decker buses.
Discovery: Fossilised remains of the new dinosaur were extracted from sandstone
At first, experts at Tomsk State University in Russia thought the bones belonged to a 'very large herbivore' but further analysis revealed it was a creature which had never before been discovered.
Alongside its enormous length, the dinosaur - nicknamed Sibirosaurus - could have been as much as 20 metres tall, the Siberian Times reports.
Fossils buried in rocks were taken to the university for examination where they were ruled to belong to the Titanosauriformes group, which included some of the largest monsters that ever roamed Earth.
Stepan Ivantsov, a research fellow in the department of palaeontology and historical geology at Tomsk State University, said: "When we discovered the remains it was clear they belonged to a very large herbivorous dinosaur from the sauropods group.
Research: Experts from Tomsk State University in Russia made the discovery
"Now that our extraction and restoration work is almost complete, we can confidently say we have found a new species, and maybe even genus.
"This adult dinosaur lived in the Late Cretaceous period, so about 100 million years ago."
Large pieces of fossil were found in 2008 during an expedition on the banks of the River Kiya, near the village of Shestakovo in the Kemerovo region of south-western Siberia.
It is thought a dinosaur foot found in the same location in 1995 could also belong to the newly discovered giant, named Sibirosaurus after Sibir, the Russian name for Siberia.
The area where the remains were found is known as a dinosaur necropolis.
Colossal: Scientists work on the giant fossils in Russia
Titanosaurs were a diverse group of sauropod dinosaurs that included the likes of the Saltasaurus, Diplodocus and Brachiosaurus.
Typically they had very long necks, long tails, but small heads and thick legs and are known for their enormous size.
It is believed some used their long tails to crack like a whip to deter or injure predators, or to make sonic booms.
They were widespread during their days on Earth and remains have been found in Argentina, Antarctica, Australia and New Zealand.
The area around Shestakovo village is known for its discoveries of dinosaur remains and experts believe there are many more buried in the ground or embedded in rock.
Painstaking: Scientists had to chisel the fossils from rock in Siberia
Ivantsov added: "We can't just take them out of there because it would require us to use explosive and we don't want to do that because it would destroy the remains, besides the territory soon will be a protected nature area.
"We also can't say at the moment if fossils found in 2008 and those found earlier belong to the same specimen.
"To understand how many specimens are on the site, we need to have several paired bones."
The team of experts plan to collect all the available remains, including part of a shoulder blade and cervical vertebrae, and piece them together into a possible skeleton.
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