Dinosaur fossil shows struggle before death

Dinosaur remains discovered in China have been described as one of the 'saddest fossils.'

As Seeker reports, the creature, called Mud Dragon, was found with its neck and wings extended as if it had died trying to emerge from some mud it had somehow gotten stuck in.

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One of the researchers is quoted as saying, "We don't know how long the struggle lasted, but we believe the creature never gave up."

It was uncovered at a construction site in southern China.

The nearly intact skeleton, dated to 66 to 72 million years ago, has since been given a new species name which translates to "muddy dragon on the road to heaven."

As a news release by the University of Edinburgh states, "The two-legged animal belongs to a family of feathered dinosaurs called oviraptorosaurs, characterised by having short, toothless heads and sharp beaks."

It goes on to point out that it was likely part of a group of flightless creatures which was able to diversify before most dinosaurs were killed off 66 million years ago.