Pahang keeping an eye on dino site

PETALING JAYA: Only 23mm long, the tooth said to belong to a dinosaur is the latest addition to Malaysia’s treasures and the state government in Pahang, where it was found, is guarding the excavation site like a hawk.

“Until the area is properly closed off, we cannot reveal the exact location of the site,” said Universiti Malaya Department of Geology associate professor Dr Masatoshi Sone, the lead researcher in the expeditions that started in September 2012.

“Sometimes non-researchers might go in with an excavator and dig up the ground,” he said, adding such incidents had occurred in Thailand and Laos; the only other two South-East Asian countries in which alleged dinosaur remains have been found.

Discovered in the rural interiors of Pahang, the fossil remains of what is considered the spinosauridae dinosaur is believed to be from the late Mesozoic era and, most likely from the Cretaceous period.

Nothing but the tooth: Dr Masatoshi showing off the dinosaur tooth during its unveiling at UM.

The researchers have not conducted a radiometric dating – a method to ascertain the age of geological finds – but say the tooth was found in sedimentary rock from the Mesozoic era.

The Mesozoic era is an interval of geological time, also called the age of reptiles, from about 252 million to 66 million years ago.

The Cretaceous is defined as the period between 145 to 75 million years ago, the last period of the Mesozoic era, following the Jurassic and ending with the extinction of the dinosaurs.

The tooth is said to be the first remains of a dinosaur found in Malaysia.

“We have not yet identified the exact species of the dinosaur or if it is a new species,” said Dr Masatoshi, adding that they identified the tooth based on key characteristics of the spinosaurid teeth.

Spinsauridae is a particular family of carnivourous dinosaurs, characterised by its long crocodile-like skulls and tiny conical teeth.

The discovery of the dinosaur fossil in Malaysia is considered a discovery for paleontologists worldwide.

The tooth was unveiled, in the presence of Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, at the university here yesterday.

Present were UM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Amin Jalaludin and the university’s Science faculty dean Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Sofian Azirun.

Dr Masatoshi said it was likely other bones would be uncovered in time.

Before this, other paleontologists had told him there were no dinosaur fossils in Malaysia because “they had never been found before”.

“The first fossil is always the hardest to find but, once it has been found, many others are likely to follow. Now we know the distribution of the spinosaurids extends to Malaysia as well,” said Dr Masatoshi.

Meanwhile, Adnan said he has instructed the forestry department and police to preserve the excavated area.

He said he would have a meeting with involved parties today to discuss the specific measures, for example, if patrols would be required or if enclosing the area was enough.