'Godzilla' Fossils Reveal Real-Life Sea Monster


사진#01

Fossils from a real-life sea monster—a massive crocodile-like species—have been unearthed in Patagonia, Argentina. The animal likely measured 13 feet (4 meters) long from nose to tail.

The researchers who made the discovery say the marine reptile, nicknamed Godzilla, lived about 135 million years ago. They describe their find in the November 11, 2005, issue of the journal Science.

Details about the ancient predator will also appear in the December 2005 issue of National Geographic magazine. The article will feature exclusive images, like this illustration, of what the reptile might have looked like.

사진#02

The fossilized skull of a newfound species of ancient marine reptile, pictured above, measures about two and a half feet (one meter) long. The creature's large jaws and jagged teeth prompted researchers to nickname the animal Godzilla after the sci-fi legend that first emerged from the ocean to terrorize Japan in the 1954 cult classic Gojira.

"Other marine crocodiles that were around at the same time had very delicate features—long, skinny snouts and needle-like teeth for catching small fish and mollusks," Diego Pol said in a press statement. The Ohio State University researcher helped identify the predator as a member of the crocodile family.

사진#03

Paleontologist Zulma Gasparini, a professor at Argentina's Universidad Nacional de La Plata, examines the skull of the newly discovered species of ancient marine reptile. Gasparini and colleague Luis Spalletti recently unearthed the skull and other fossils in Patagonia.

The scientists, along with Ohio State University researcher Diego Pol, describe their find in the November 11, 2005, issue of the journal Science and the December 2005 issue of National Geographic magazine.

사진#04

Computer images of the skull of a newfound species of crocodile-like marine reptile show how the massive predator might have looked.

Diego Pol, a researcher at Ohio State University, used sophisticated software to map the features of the skull and other fossils discovered in Argentina. Using these images, Pol was able to place the unusual creature on the crocodile family tree.


칠레 판타고니아에서 1억 4천만년~ 6천5백만년전 백악기에 지구에 생존한 고질라와 닮은 대형 악어의 화석이 발견됐다.

6천 5백만년전에 멸종된 고질라 악어는 몸 길이가 4m가 넘었다고 하는데 이는 오늘날 악어와 비슷하게 생활했을 것으로 추정하고 있다.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/11/photogalleries/godzilla/photo3.html

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