Chinese scientists from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have made an amazing discovery in the Tibet Autonomous Region. They found fossils of two specimens of the ancient deep-sea predator Himalayasaurus, which lived in the oceans of the Earth 215-212 million years ago.
The remains were found at an altitude of 4 thousand meters above sea level, 100 km from the climbers’ camp located on Chomolungma (Everest). According to scientists, fossils millions of years ago, as a result of the movement of tectonic plates, were raised from the ocean floor and ended up high in the mountains.
Himalayasaurs are noted to have had elongated mouths and sharp teeth, and were up to 10 meters long. They ate mainly fish and invertebrates. The find is of particular value due to the well-preserved details of the spine and ribs.
According to Wang Wei, an employee of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology, Chinese scientists plan to study the reason for such a large size of the Himalayasaurs, their habits during life, and also determine the habitats of predators in the past.
This discovery not only reveals the secrets of the ancient world, but also helps scientists better understand the evolution of animals. Himalayasaurs were among the first predators in the Earth’s oceans, and studying their fossils can help in understanding how the animals adapted to life in the water.
In addition, this discovery may help scientists better understand the history of our planet. Himalayasaurs lived on Earth more than 200 million years ago, and studying their fossils can help scientists understand what conditions existed on Earth at that time.
