Ancient reptiles' hunting, swimming patterns revealed. Researchers have revealed a new specie of predatory reptiles in China.
China has proved to be a treasure trove of sorts for excavators searching for prehistoric life on earth.
In the course of recent excavation, researchers have reached the conclusion that during Triassic period, sea reptiles actually deployed fins to graze the depth of the seas and also attack their hapless preys.
A renowned paleontologist has made the conclusion after studying the area in detail. Michael Benton who is associated with the University of Bristol in England recently published fin prints in the leading journal Nature Communications.
Researchers after extensive study found that nothosaurs actually propelled their fins into the seabed, attacking their prey including fish and others the way plow does with rocks in the soil. Professor Qiyue Zhang from Chengdu Center of China Geological Survey says, "We interpret the tracks as foraging trails. The nothosaur was a predator, and this was a smart way to feed. As its paddles scooped out the soft mud, they probably disturbed fishes and shrimps, which it snapped up with needle-sharp teeth."
While detailing his finding Benton says, "When I first saw the site, I couldn't believe the amazing quality of the fossils. It's quite unusual to find skeletons of marine reptiles such as the nothosaurs so close to evidence of their tracks."
Qi-yue Zhang's contribution in the study is also great. The track marks were identified by him while he was working on geological features of China's Yunnan province. At that time he was able to find out a couple of several track marks on a ledge.
Later the researchers took care of the area and worked on excavation on the ledge. There they were able to find out almost 350 completely preserved prints. They were able to identify some 15 different track ways. To clear the air and get to the truth they deployed laser scanning mapping the tracks.
Then the researchers studied other fossils found in the region comparing the tracks with fossils from other animals that survived at that time.
Source : http://nvonews.com/ancient-reptiles-deployed-fins-to-attack-prey-paddle-tracks-found/
