 Dinosaurs
- the terrible lizards who had the earth under their
sway for a long period. Originating about 200 million
years ago from a reptile called Thecodont, this
group multiplied with abundant diversification, invading
in the process all broad ecological niches available on
land and in inland waters, feeding ferociously both on
plants and flesh.
Steven Spielberg recreated these animals with  computer
graphics in Jurassic Park and The
Lost World. And if you missed those movies, no
worry. BM Birla Science Centre in connoisance with
Geological Survey of India has reproduced those
fearsome species in skeleton form by joining various bones
of dinosaurs excavated from Yamanpalli village
of Adilabad district. The fantastic skeleton of dinosaur,
which is painstakingly put up by the Geological Survey
of India and supported by smaller exhibits all around,
has been housed in 'Dinosaurium', specially created
for dinosaurs in the BM Birla Science Centre.
 Describing
the Dinosaurium to hyderabad-best.com, Dr
B.G. Sidharth, Director-General, BM Birla Science
Centre says, "The 'Dinosaurium' is truly a breathtaking
facility which displays a rare and magnificent fossilised
skeleton of the dinosaur, 'Kotasaurus Yamanpalliensis',
belonging to the Lower Jurassic Age of about 160 million
years ago. It is one of the finest specimens in the world."
The dinosaurium was inaugurated on 25th July 2000.
 The
specimen of the dinosaur has been put up in a natural
and dynamic posture and measures about 14.5 metres
in length and over 4 metres in height. The excavation
of this dinosaur was a long and arduous process and the
credit for the unearthing of the skeleton should go to
the GSI team in general and DR P. Yadagiri in particular.
The Geologists have taken about 6 years to excavate the
fossil remains of the dinosaurs. Says Siddharth, "Search
for vertebrate remains near Yamanpalli area (300 km from
Hyderabad) led to discovery of few fossilised dinosaur
bones which were embedded in the rocks. About 840 skeletal
parts of the dinosaurs were collected between 1974 and
1980 by paleontologists of Geological survey of India."
A close examination of the excavated fossils by the geologists,
has revealed that the collection consisted of bones from
12 different dinosaurs. The skeletal parts collected from
the field were processed and joined together to form a
composite skeleton. Further study by the Geologists revealed
that the dinosaur belonged to a new genus and new species
and was named as 'Kotasaurus Yamanapalliensis'
after the site where it was discovered.
 The
dinosaur put up in the Dinosaurium belongs to the Sauropod
category, i.e., the vegetarian variety. And they are the
earliest known species of dinosaurs. Apart from this unique
fossil of the majestic animal, the Dinosaurium has equally
important fossil specimens going back to the same areas,
like dinosaur eggs, part of a fossilised tree
trunk and a giant ammonite. The Dinosaurium
throws light on the evolution of dinosaurs and educates
people about the extinct species.
Address: BM Birla Science Centre, Adarsh Nagar,
Hyderabad - 500 063. Phone: 323 5081, 324 1067.
Fax: 323 7266.
E-mail: birlasc@hd1.vsnl.net.in
URL: www.birlavision.com
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