River reveals 'Jurassic dragon'

I did look for relevant board to post about Dinosaurs, but I guessed here was ok.

The fossil of a prehistoric sea monster that lived more than 144 million years ago has been found in a river on the edge of west Belfast.

Colin Glen could become known as Northern Ireland's Jurassic Park after the backbone of a plesiosaur was uncovered.

Such a find was a chance in a million said Paul Bennett, the educational ranger at the park.

"The 7cm section of vertebrae was found at Colin River. It would have belonged to a creature know as a 'sea dragon' which was here in the Jurassic period when Ireland would have been down where the Sudan is and covered by seas," Mr Bennett said.

The plesiosaur had a round short body, four flippers, a short tail and a very long neck and small head.

Mr Bennett said the Colin River was rich in fossils and was of great geological interest.

He has found sharks' teeth and the fossil of an extinct marine reptile, an ichthyosaur at the site, in the past.

They had sharp teeth and snapping jaws, which set a deadly trap for small aquatic animals.

"When I found this, I hoped it would be the plesiosaur because that is like finding the Loch Ness monster," he said.

"I've been told the reptile could have been about 20 metres long.

"This is very exciting, not just for me but for the people and the park."

Dr Michael Simms, a curator of palaeontology at the Ulster Museum, has examined the fossil and believes it could be 190 million years old.

"Pleiosaurs are very rare fossils and it is very lucky to find a single bone," he said.

Plesiosaurs were thought to have caught their prey by lashing out with their long necks and then snatching at victims with sharp teeth.

They were thought to be hunters of fish, squid and other free-swimming prey; but recent research has also indicated they would feed on bottom-dwelling animals such as clams and snails, too.

SOURCE

It's not a new creature at all, but as I'm from the UK, I thought it was a bit of fun.

It certainly would make kayaking more interesting if you had those things in the rivers.

I'm pretty sure I could put forth a pretty substantial effort if one of those surfaced anywhere near me. Yikes!

Isnt the bone from the same dinosaur as the lochness mnoster described as? If it is, and they lived around Belfast and in the sea, doesnt this mean the possibility that The Lochness monster is a plesiosaur?

reply to post by Branchly




I was just thinking the same thing.

I wasn't aware that the area was rich with marine life many moons ago.

Certainly helps with 'Nessienites' and their quest for proof.

Yes many people have suggested that 'Nessie' is a plesiosaur. It could spark another theory that it could potentially exist, but the facts remain, could it have survived all that time? It's hundreds of millions of years...and to survive in only one place?! Or are they like crocodiles, survived all that time and are living in various places around the World but yet to be discovered?

Also I'm not sure on a plesiosaurs diet or lifespan, so has 'Nessie' died, or are there more than one 'Nessie,' breeding over the years?

I really dont think that a good and healthy populations of plesiosaurs live in Loch Ness, because I guess there would be alot more sightings and films and pictures of the monster, sure its a big Loch, but its a big creature.

If say the dino does become a reality, from the lochness, then the religious theory of the world being 10,000 years old will be destroyed for good.

reply to post by Arawn


Plus the problem that Loch Ness is a glacial lake carved out by the last ice age, and not, in fact, from the Mesozoic. Makes it kind of hard for a mesozoic creature to just pop up in there.

by the way the lockness monster is infact a plesiosaur real proof cought on film.

not kiddng!!!

Originally posted by Draco87
by the way the lockness monster is infact a plesiosaur real proof cought on film.

not kiddng!!!

You said it actually is "in fact plesiosaur" - PLEASE SHARE WITH US THESE FACTS!



Plus you said there is video evidence to back up your claims. Post it here for us to view please!