Dinosaurs fell toes in the Pacific Ocean

First evidence of dinosaur toe fossils (Photo: AP) The first evidence of terrestrial dinosaurs that once dominated the remote islands of the South Pacific was discovered.

Dr. Jeffrey Stilwell, a paleontologist at Monash University, Melbourne, said he discovered fossils of feet, toes and spine of carnivorous dinosaurs on Chatham Island, 850 km from New Zealand. East. This finding confirms Chatham once connected with New Zealand.

"Previously, only a few proofs of dinosaur fossils were found in northern New Zealand. Now we find dinosaur fossils 1,000 kilometers east of the South Pacific Ocean."

He added that the group had discovered more dinosaur fossils in Chatham than in New Zealand for 25 years. While some traces of dinosaurs are found along the Antarctic Peninsula and in South America, this is the first discovery in the southwest Pacific and unique in the southern hemisphere.

"Dinosaurs have followed their own evolutionary path for 15 million years since the separation of Chatham and New Zealand about 80 million years ago."

MT