The strange reptile has hundreds of needle-like teeth

A creature with teeth has hundreds of sharp needles like new ones discovered by Chinese paleontologists.

An unusual creature called Atopodentatus Unicus , lived in the mid-Triassic period, about 240 million years ago, is a new genus and species. Dr. Xiao-chun Wu, a paleontologist at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, led the team to discover the fossil skeleton of this organism in the Guanling geological formation in southwestern China. Their findings have just been published in the journal Nature Science.

Atopodentatus Unicus belongs to sauropterygians, a group of reptiles living in the water, which developed strongly in the Mesozoic period before being extinct at the end of this period. The fossil skeleton of this creature is almost complete, only partially missing the right side of the skull. From snout to tail, about 3m long.

The scientific report said that the teeth of this creature are arranged into 35 sets according to the vertical model with the center being the upper jaw. The creature's teeth are too thin and brittle, so it is difficult to attack or eat large prey. Atopodentatus Unicus teeth may only be used to filter marine worms and other small organisms on the ocean floor. The unusual shape of the teeth makes it easier to filter food.