Oldest Fossil Remains of Long-Necked Dinosaur Discovered in Rajasthan

Scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Roorkee and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) have unveiled a groundbreaking discovery – the oldest fossil remains of a long-necked, plant-eating dicraeosaurid dinosaur in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The fossils, dating back 167 million years, belong to a previously unknown species.

Published in ‘Scientific Reports,’ an international journal affiliated with Nature, the study was led by Sunil Bajpai, Chair Professor of Vertebrate Paleontology at IIT-Roorkee, and his colleague Debajit Datta. The fossils were collected during a GSI-initiated exploration and excavation program in 2018. This finding adds to the understanding of dinosaur evolution in India and suggests its significance in the prehistoric landscape.