Cretaceous fossils reveal new dinosaurs

Paleontologists have discovered an unknown hairy dinosaur that lived 67 million years ago in the southwestern United States.

Dineobellator notohesperus restorations.(Photo: UPI).

The new species, named Dineobellator notohesperus , was one of the last predators to roam the Earth before the dinosaurs went extinct. Like its infamous relative Velociraptor, D. notohesperus is a dromaeosaurid, or fast-running dinosaur, of the bird-like dinosaur group of birds .

Fossils of the animal were excavated inside a huge quarry in the San Juan River basin in New Mexico state, USA. The analysis shows that this species has a length of 1.8 - 2.1 m, about 1 m high when standing (from feet to hips), but weighs 18-22 kg.

Bone structure of D. notohesperus.(Photo: CNN).

This bird-like dinosaur has a long and mobile tail that acts as a steering wheel to help them move very quickly and flexibly. The body is covered with a thick layer of feather, especially in the forearm. The two previous genera of D. notohesperus are quite large, if compared to other dinosaurs living at the same time as the tyrant dinosaur T-rex.

"The strong arm, combined with the sharp claws that can damage and tighten the prey, allows D. notohesperus (often hunting in herds) to attack even larger dinosaurs than their body size , " said Dr. Steven Jasinski, lead researcher from the University of Pennsylvania, USA.

The dromaeosaurid species are more well known in the northern United States and Canada. Very few fossils have been found farther to the south. The discovery gives scientists new insights into life in the southwestern United States of America during the millennia of the dinosaur extinction event.

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