A significant paleontological find in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district has ignited excitement among scientists and enthusiasts, with the discovery of fossilized remains potentially belonging to a flying dinosaur from the Jurassic period.
Unearthed in Megha village during pond excavation, these remains, including bone-like structures and fossilized wood, offer a tantalizing glimpse into India's prehistoric past. Local residents first noticed unusual stone formations resembling a large skeletal structure alongside fossilized wood. While fossilized wood is a known occurrence in western Rajasthan, the presence of bone-like formations marks this discovery as particularly noteworthy.
Dr. Narayan Das Inikhiya, a hydrogeologist who examined the site, estimates the visible portion of the skeleton to be over 20 feet long, with potentially more buried. He suggests the fossils are in the process of fossilization, indicating an age of millions of years. Preliminary assessments by Dr. Inikhiya suggest the fossils could be approximately 180 million years old, placing them firmly in the Jurassic period.
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has been alerted and is expected to conduct a thorough investigation to confirm the age and species of these fossils. The Fatehgarh Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Bharatraj Gurjar, confirmed that the exact age and type of fossil will be determined after a comprehensive scientific analysis.
This discovery adds to Rajasthan's growing reputation as a hub for paleontological research. The state previously yielded the fossil remains of Tharosaurus indicus, a long-necked, plant-eating dicraeosaurid dinosaur estimated to be around 167 million years old. The discovery of Tharosaurus indicus itself was significant, marking the first report of a dicraeosaurid sauropod from India and suggesting that the Indian subcontinent may have been a crucial center for the early evolution and dispersal of these dinosaurs.
The current find in Megha village, if confirmed as a flying dinosaur, could represent one of the rarer instances of such fossils being found in this region, further enriching our understanding of India's ancient geological history and the diverse life forms that once inhabited it. The Jurassic period, spanning roughly from 201.4 to 143.1 million years ago, was a transformative era for life on Earth, characterized by the dominance of dinosaurs and the emergence of early flying reptiles like pterosaurs.