A new species of dinosaur has been discovered in Thailand, the 13th to be found in the country. The dinosaur, named Minimocursor phunoiensis, is a small herbivorous dinosaur that lived about 150 million years ago.
The fossilized skeleton of Minimocursor phunoiensis was found at the Phu Noi excavation site in Thailand’s Kalasin Province. The site is known for its rich fossil deposits and has yielded more than 5,000 other vertebrate fossils, including eight new species.
Minimocursor phunoiensis was a small dinosaur, about the size of a chicken, with a long neck and tail. The name Minimocursor means “small runner,” and it is thought to have been a fast-moving plant-eater. It is a member of the Ornithischia group of dinosaurs, which includes birds and their extinct relatives.
The discovery of Minimocursor phunoiensis is a significant find, as it provides new insights into the evolution of dinosaurs in Southeast Asia. The dinosaur is the earliest known neornithischian (bird-like dinosaur) from the region, and its discovery suggests that these dinosaurs were more widespread in Southeast Asia than previously thought.
The Phu Noi excavation site is a valuable resource for paleontologists, and the discovery of Minimocursor phunoiensis is a testament to the site’s potential for future discoveries. The site is still under excavation, and it is likely that more dinosaur fossils will be found there in the years to come.
