Why in the News?

• Workers excavating a pond in Fatehpur, Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan, may have uncovered fossils of a winged reptile from the Jurassic period, potentially 180 million years ago, which could redefine the fossil landscape of western India.

Key Points:

⇒ Villagers discovered a "large bone-like structure" and stone fossils as hard as wood, with geologists estimating the creature to be 8 to 10 feet long, and the structure itself measuring 6 to 7 feet.

⇒ Experts believe these remains might be vertebrate fossils, possibly from a flying herbivorous dinosaur.

Significance:

⇒ The fossils may represent the first flying reptile discovered in the Lathi Formation of Jaisalmer.

⇒ The Lathi Formation is renowned for its abundant fossil deposits, providing valuable insights into life during the Jurassic period (around 180 to 200 million years ago).

⇒ This discovery would add a new dimension to the region’s fossil map, complementing previous findings from Akal and Thaiyat, which are also believed to be from the dinosaur era.

⇒ Teams from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Geological Survey of India (GSI) are set to examine the fossils in detail to determine their exact age and species.