Okay okay, in some ways this is old news, but it’s still fun!

In 2004 a team of researchers working on Awaji Island (Hyogo Prefecture) found dinosaur bones, including a lower jaw, shoulder, and some other parts. Named “Yamatosaurus izanagii” (a reference to the 8th century text Kojiki), the dinosaur was determined to be a new species.

Fast forward to 2019, a nearly entire body of yet another species, now known as “Kamuysaurus japonicus,” has been discovered in Mukawa, Hokkaido. There are still many questions remaining about the evolution of these species, but hey, dinosaurs are super cool! As is knowing that we’re still only scratching the surface (literally and figuratively?) in archaeological discoveries of the prehistoric past around the globe.

You can read more about the finds at this Mainichi Shimbun article as well as view a neat digital video rendering of what the dinosaurs may have looked like walking.

Happy Friday! 🦖