ScienceNews reports that a new type of dinosaur, Limusaurus inextricabilis, has been discovered at a fossil dig site in China. The find is especially exciting due to the dinosaur’s apparent close relation to birds, further proving some scientists’ theory that one group of dinosaurs actually evolved instead of dying out. This group of dinosaurs, called theropods, walked on two legs, and the new dinosaur fossils that was discovered in China extend the link between theropods and modern day birds because of its clear similarity to bird hand-bone arrangements.

Limusaurus inextricabilis is thought to have been a vegetarian, “ostrich-size dinosaur” according to ScienceNews and also had a beak. This dinosaur also has one less finger than most of the other theropods that have been found, a fact that helps some scientists prove that it is more closely related to modern birds than was previously hypothesized. If birds did evolve from this particular dinosaur, as scientists are now considering more seriously, then bird wings would have transitioned from the limusaurus inextricabilis’ unique hand structure, which favors a second, third and fourth finger arrangement, rather than a first, second and third finger design. This hand structure originally evolved from a five-digit hand design.

The dinosaur, whose new, given name means “mire lizard who could not escape” was so named because it is believed to have died by getting trapped in a mudflat in what would have been China 159 million years ago.It may have had feathers, but scientists are inconclusive on this theory. They do know, however, that Limusaurus inextricabilis had no teeth and primarily ate a vegetarian diet that was digested by swallowing small rocks to grind down food. Some rocks, called gastroliths, were found inside the stomachs of these dinosaur fossils and support this theory.

The fossil expedition was led by vertebrate paleontolist James M. Clark, of George Washington University and whose project was partly funded by The National Geographic Society. The expedition and findings are documented in the June 18^th issue of Nature journal.

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