Archaeologists in China's Xinjiang region have discovered the fossil of a 160 million-year-old carnivorous dinosaur. Experts believe the fossil shares a common origin with birds.
Archaeologists in China have discovered the complete fossil of a 160-million-year-old dinosaur, the Haplocheirus Sollers.
Experts believe this discovery will help confirm the evolutionary relationship between dinosaurs and birds.
The two-meter tall carnivorous dinosaur was discovered in China's Xinjiang region and is the only one of its kind found so far.
Researchers are surprised by the dinosaur’s physical similarity to birds, particularly its appendages.
This archaeological find strengthens the link between the pair, which Chinese Academy of Science's Professor Xu Xing says is raising hopes of further discoveries.
[Xu Xing, Professor, Chinese Academy of Sciences]:
"We know that birds are derived from dinosaurs. But most of our original fossils are from the Cretaceous period. But now we hope to find more Jurassic fossils. This way we can find more direct evidence to prove that birds have evolved from dinosaurs."
The search continues for more fossils to support their theory, and researchers are focused on the dinosaur's appearance, habits and evolutionary development.
