As of the latest Dinosaur Fossils news, the discovery of dinosaur fossils on Port Island, Hong Kong. The fossils were found in March 2024 by Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, but the discovery was officially announced by the government in October 2024.
Experts have confirmed that the fossils likely belonged to a large dinosaur from the Cretaceous period, dating back 145 million to 66 million years ago.
The Cretaceous period is the final era in the Mesozoic Era known for its abundant dinosaur species. This is a moment in dinosaur fossils news, as Hong Kong’s previous fossil findings were limited to plants and fish from the dinosaur era, without any vertebrate remains.
Port Island is part of the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark located in the city’s northeastern waters. It has been a designated site of special scientific interest since 1979.
The discovery was made in an area known for its sedimentary rock formations, ideal for the preservation of fossils.
The island was uninhabited and known for its rugged landscape. It is typically closed to the public.
Bernadette Linn Hon-ho, the Secretary for Development hailed the find as of great significance, stating that it provides new evidence for research on paleoenvironments in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong actually has large countryside areas, most of which contain dinosaur-era rocks. However, volcanic rocks make fossil discoveries difficult since fossils tend to deteriorate in such environments.
The sedimentary conditions on Port Island have now proven to be favorable for fossil preservation. This discovery has generated excitement among scientists in Hong Kong especially those at the Chinese University of Hong Kong who have long hoped to find dinosaur fossils within the city’s borders.
Despite hosting numerous research efforts related to dinosaurs, Hong Kong had never contributed any fossil discoveries until now.
China is already a global leader in dinosaur research, with major fossil finds in regions like Sichuan, Yunnan and Guangdong.
As of the latest Dinosaur Fossils news, the discovery of dinosaur fossils in Hong Kong opens up new possibilities for biogeographical studies.
According to Prof. Michael Pittman, a paleontologist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, these fossils could provide insights into the dinosaur species that inhabited the region.
While it is still too early to tell, further analysis may reveal new information that distinguishes these fossils from others found in mainland China.
The fossils are expected to undergo detailed investigation by experts from mainland China, who will work to identify the exact species and study the environmental context in which these creatures lived.
The fossils will be put on public display starting Friday, October 25, 2024, at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui.
This display will allow the public to witness this find firsthand. Additionally, by the end of the year, the Hong Kong government plans to set up a temporary workshop where the public can observe experts as they carefully prepare fossil specimens for further study.
As of the latest Dinosaur Fossils news, Port Island has been closed to the public since October 23, 2024, to facilitate further excavations and ensure that future research can proceed undisturbed.
The site is expected to yield additional fossil discoveries as paleontologists conduct more extensive field investigations in the area.
The Hong Kong government has commissioned experts from mainland China to lead these investigations.
Given that the fossils were found in geological layers similar to those in Guangdong, the discovery may indicate that Hong Kong once shared a similar environment with other fossil-rich areas of southern China.
According to the government’s statement, experts believe that the dinosaur remains were likely buried under sand and gravel after its death. This would have protected the bones from erosion and decay.
It is speculated that the fossils were exposed to the surface due to a massive flood and later buried again, ultimately remaining hidden for millions of years until their discovery in 2024.
To confirm the find and conduct further analysis, Hong Kong enlisted the help of mainland Chinese experts from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The field investigation conducted by these experts will provide valuable insights into the dinosaur’s species and cement the importance of this discovery in dinosaur fossils news.
Paleontologists are particularly excited, as finding dinosaur fossils is a rare occurrence in this part of southern China, where skeletal remains are typically overshadowed by the discovery of dinosaur eggs.
As of the latest Dinosaur Fossils news, the government has announced plans to display the fossils at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre, located in the bustling Tsim Sha Tsui area.
The exhibit will open to the public starting Friday, October 25, 2024, offering visitors an opportunity to witness this find.
In addition, by the end of 2024, a temporary workshop will be opened to allow the public to observe experts as they prepare fossil specimens.
Earlier in 2024, paleontologists in Jiangxi province uncovered the fossils of Gandititan cavocaudatus, a newly discovered species of dinosaur. Since 2020, researchers have found dinosaur remains at multiple sites in Yunnan province.
