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Mystery of dinosaur with giant arms solved | Mystery of dinosaur with giant arms solved |
(about 9 hours later) | |
A dinosaur mystery that has baffled palaeontologists for 50 years has finally been solved. | A dinosaur mystery that has baffled palaeontologists for 50 years has finally been solved. |
In the 1960s, researchers unearthed two gigantic dinosaur arms. For decades, scientists have speculated about what kind of beast they belonged to. | In the 1960s, researchers unearthed two gigantic dinosaur arms. For decades, scientists have speculated about what kind of beast they belonged to. |
Now, the rest of the dinosaur's body has been unearthed, and researchers say that the creature is even more bizarre than they had thought. | Now, the rest of the dinosaur's body has been unearthed, and researchers say that the creature is even more bizarre than they had thought. |
They say it was huge, with a beak, a humped back and giant, hoofed feet. | They say it was huge, with a beak, a humped back and giant, hoofed feet. |
The study is published in the journal Nature. | The study is published in the journal Nature. |
Lead researcher Yuong-Nam Lee, from South Korea's Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (Kigam), said: "It turned out to be one of the weirdest dinosaurs, it's weird beyond our imagination." | Lead researcher Yuong-Nam Lee, from South Korea's Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (Kigam), said: "It turned out to be one of the weirdest dinosaurs, it's weird beyond our imagination." |
Slow mover | Slow mover |
For half a century, all that was known about this dinosaur was that it had enormous forearms, measuring 2.4m-long (8ft) and tipped with three giant claws. | For half a century, all that was known about this dinosaur was that it had enormous forearms, measuring 2.4m-long (8ft) and tipped with three giant claws. |
Its name Deinocheirus mirificus means unusual, horrible hands. In various reconstructions, it has been imagined as anything from a T. rex-type predator grasping at prey with its claws, to a giant, sloth-like climber, using its arms to dangle from trees. | Its name Deinocheirus mirificus means unusual, horrible hands. In various reconstructions, it has been imagined as anything from a T. rex-type predator grasping at prey with its claws, to a giant, sloth-like climber, using its arms to dangle from trees. |
But the discovery of two nearly complete skeletons in Mongolia have finally laid this speculation to rest. | But the discovery of two nearly complete skeletons in Mongolia have finally laid this speculation to rest. |
The international research team says the beast was very large, measuring about 11m (36ft) long and weighing six tonnes. | The international research team says the beast was very large, measuring about 11m (36ft) long and weighing six tonnes. |
It had an elongated head with a duck-like beak, and a large humped sail on its back. | It had an elongated head with a duck-like beak, and a large humped sail on its back. |
Its legs were short and stumpy, but its feet were very large with hooves, which would have prevented it from sinking into the boggy wetlands where it lived. | Its legs were short and stumpy, but its feet were very large with hooves, which would have prevented it from sinking into the boggy wetlands where it lived. |
The researchers think that the beast was probably a very slow mover. The contents of its stomach suggest that it ate plants and fish. | The researchers think that the beast was probably a very slow mover. The contents of its stomach suggest that it ate plants and fish. |
Dr Yuong-Nam Lee said: "We did not know their function before, but the long forearms with giant claws may have been used for digging and gathering herbaceous plants in freshwater habitats." | Dr Yuong-Nam Lee said: "We did not know their function before, but the long forearms with giant claws may have been used for digging and gathering herbaceous plants in freshwater habitats." |
Commenting on the research Prof John Hutchinson, a palaeontologist from the UK's Royal Veterinary College, said: "Many dinosaur fans have seen pictures of the 8ft-long arms and hands, and they really are amazing and wonderful. People were really wondering what the rest of this animal looked like. | |
"Now we know, and it's just so freaking weird - we never would have expected this animal to look so bizarre. | "Now we know, and it's just so freaking weird - we never would have expected this animal to look so bizarre. |
"It really is shocking to see how many weird features it has. It changes our view of what kind of forms dinosaurs can even take." | "It really is shocking to see how many weird features it has. It changes our view of what kind of forms dinosaurs can even take." |
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