Minimocursor Phunoiensis is the 13th Dinosaur Species Discovered in Thailand

Minimocursor Phunoiensis is the 13^th Dinosaur Species Discovered in Thailand

Minimocursor phunoiensis or “a small runner” is the world’s newest species of dinosaur. This finding is a part of a paleontological research project of Dr. Sita Manitkul, a researcher in Paleontological Research and Education Center, Mahasarakham University and his team.

Minimocursor phunoiensis is the 13^th dinosaur discovered in Thailand and has one of the most complete fossil skeletons in Southeast Asia. The 60 centimeter tall herbivore is the 8^th dinosaur species to be newly discovered at the excavation site of Phu Noi Mountain, Kalasin province. Researchers believe fully grown Minimocursor phunoiensis may have been about 2 meters tall. The fossil has been dated at about 150 million years old (late Jurassic period), making “small runner” the oldest ornithischian dinosaur in the Southeast Asia.

This research project is an international collaboration between Paleontological Research and Education Center, Mahasarakham University, Sirindhorn Museum and Laboratoire de Géologie de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, France.

Source: Paleontological Research and Education Center, MSU

Thai news link: https://www.msu.ac.th/%e0%b8%a3%e0%b8%b2%e0%b8%a2%e0%b8%a5%e0%b8%b0%e0%b9%80%e0%b8%ad%e0%b8%b5%e0%b8%a2%e0%b8%94%e0%b8%82%e0%b9%88%e0%b8%b2%e0%b8%a7/?hid=10671