For archaeologists, the discovery of new fossils is extremely special. Through them, experts will have the opportunity to learn about individuals millions of years ago.
In addition to unique fossils such as a 46-million-year-old mosquito fossil with blood still in its belly, or the world’s oldest sperm fossil… archaeologists are also extremely surprised by the discovery of giant fossils.
1. Camel fossil is twice as big as a normal camel
In 2005, Swiss archaeologists at the University of Zurich discovered the bones of a giant camel in a village 120km northeast of La Palmyre. Through research, experts determined that this animal lived about 100,000 years ago. Its size is nearly twice as big as other normal camels.
Head of the survey, Professor Jean-Marie Le Tensorer confirmed that this was a new species of camel. In addition to the giant camel fossil, experts also found numerous stone tools, many shoulder, leg and jaw bones of that individual camel.
Through the collected specimens, archaeologists have simulated the shape of this giant camel and determined that ancient camels may have been the target of hunting. This also helps researchers better understand the evolutionary process of camels – one of the creatures that still has many mysteries.
2. Python fossil weighs more than a ton
In 2009, scientists discovered the fossil of a python species believed to be the largest in the world with a length of up to 13m and a weight of over a ton in the Cerrejon coal region – Northeast Colombia.
This python was named тιтanoboa cerrejonensis, meaning giant python from Cerrejon. According to the description published in the journal Nature, тιтanoboa was at least 13m long and weighed about 1,140kg. The giant body of the python was at least 1m wide.
The image depicts the giant python тιтanoboa.
Jack Conrad – python expert at the American Museum of Natural History said: “This reptile is heavier than a bison and longer than a bus. Therefore, the тιтanoboa python is more than capable of eating other animals the size of a cow and obviously, they will swallow humans immediately”.
Experts hope that the discovery of this giant python will help them open the door to research on what the animals that replaced dinosaurs at that time looked like.
3. Crocodile fossil nearly 7m long
In 2012, Dr. Mark Young of the University of Edinburgh led a team of scientists to excavate the fossil skeleton of the ancient crocodile Plesiosuchus, 6.8m long, and Dakosaurus, 4.5m long, dating back 150 million years. These fossils were found at two locations on the coast of Dorset and Cambridgeshire (UK).
The fossilized skull, lower jaw and teeth of the crocodile Dakosaurus.
In addition, the crocodiles Dakosaurus and Plesiosuchus have skulls that are believed to be similar to the T-Rex, but their hunting methods are similar to the killer whales that live in the North Atlantic today. They catch prey by opening their mouths, creating pressure and sucking the prey into their mouths.
4. Dinosaur fossils as tall as a 7-story building
Recently, a farmer accidentally discovered giant fossil bones in the desert near La Flecha, in Argentina. Immediately after that, archaeologists from the Egidio Feruglio Museum of Paleontology, led by Dr. José Luis Carballido and Dr. Diego Pol, conducted a survey.
A newly discovered dinosaur fossil bone.
Accordingly, by measuring the length and circumference of the largest giant thigh bone found, experts estimate that this creature was about 40m long, 20m tall and weighed 77 tons – equivalent to 14 African elephants and 7 tons heavier than the animal previously considered the world’s largest – the Argentinosaurus dinosaur.
