Dinosaurs footprints spotted in Jaisalmer: Scientists

An International team of 34 scientists on 13 January 2014 spotted the footprints of Dinosaurs at Thaiat village in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. At present, the team of scientists from a number of countries is camping in Jaisalmer to study the fossils of Dinosaurs found in sandy desert areas.

The research related to fossils is centered on the evolution, extinction and paleo-bio-genography of the dinosaurs. The team of scientists also includes scientists from India. It also includes scientists from France and Germany.

The team of the scientists is being led by Dr Jan Schlogl of Slovakia has observed the footprints on the basal rocks of Thaiat Scrap Section and identified it as footprints of Pterosaurs (flying dinosaur). Similarly, the bone fragments of Pterosaurs have been recorded earlier by Dr PK Pandey of the University of Rajasthan.

The first footprint discovered was only 5 cm long, the shape and name of the species has been called as Grallator (it is a specific name given to the footprint). The second footprint was about 30 cm long, which is three toed (tridactyl footprint) has been named as Eurontes Giganteus.

The team of scientists are on a visit to Rajasthan on the sidelines of the 9th International Congress on the Jurassic System, which is held between 6 to 9 January by the Department of Geology of University of Rajasthan.

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