Chinese scientists say they've found the remains of a small "flying dragon" that lived around the time of the dinosaurs.
The London Telegraph says the six-inch long skeleton of the Gliding Lizard fossil features "elongated ribs that helped to spread a wing-like membrane for gliding."
A report by Xing Xu of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleonanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Beijing, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, says the unusual arrangement is found today only in the dragon lizards of southeast Asia.
The fossil of insect eating reptile was found in the Liaoning Province of northeastern China.
Copyright 2007 by United Press International
Related stories:
Newly described 'dragon' protein could be key to bird flu cure
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists and researchers have taken a big step closer to a cure for the most common strain of avian influenza, or "bird flu," the potential pandemic that has claimed more than 200 lives and infected nearly 400 people in 14 countries since it was identified in 2003.
Researchers discover second depth-perception method in brain
It's common knowledge that humans and other animals are able to visually judge depth because we have two eyes and the brain compares the images from each. But we can also judge depth with only one eye, and scientists have been searching for how the brain accomplishes that feat.
Lizards' feisty flicking changed by motion noise
Animals that alter their movement-based signals to overcome visually ‘noisy’ environments could lead to a better understanding of vision systems and improve the capacity of ‘seeing’ machines, according to scientists from The Australian National University.
Giant ape co-existed alongside humans 100,000 years ago, researcher finds
A gigantic ape, measuring about 10 feet tall and weighing up to 1,200 pounds, co-existed alongside humans, a geochronologist at McMaster University has discovered.
Next generation anti-land mine device
UK-based humanitarian de-mining specialists Disarmco have teamed up with ordnance and explosives experts at Cranfield University at Shrivenham to develop the next generation of anti-land mine device.
The anti-landmine invention – codenamed 'Dragon' –is the subject of a European patent application and is cheaper, faster and quicker than many existing alternatives.
In addition, a specially designed portable facility for the production of hundreds of 'Dragons' is being deployed in a worldwide effort to clear certain types of land mines and unexploded ordnance (UXOs) that claim over 8,000 lives a year and maim around 20,000 people, 25% of them children.
Aquarium advocates planet-friendly sushi
If you down a plate of maguro for lunch or can't go a week without a dragon roll, the folks at the Monterey Bay Aquarium would like to have a word with you.
Ocean offers hope for green energy
Five miles off the southern tip of Long Beach Island, an oversize yellow buoy floats alone, purposefully mounting the waves and occasionally phoning home.
Graduate student discovers, names bacterium linked to psyllid yellows
To make a discovery and get to name it is just about every scientist's dream. For one graduate student at UC Riverside that dream already has come true.