| Dinosaur named after Hogwarts School [message #270044] |
Mi, 24 Mai 2006 13:26 |
|
Source: UPI
INDIANAPOLIS (UPI) -- A new dinosaur species -- Dracorex hogwartsia --
named in honor of author J.K. Rowling and her Harry Potter books, went
on display Monday in Indianapolis.
The newly discovered, 66-million-year-old dragon-like dinosaur's name
comes from the Latin words draco (meaning dragon), rex (meaning king),
and hogwartsia (after the fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft &
Wizardry created by Rowling).
"The naming of Dracorex hogwartsia is easily the most unexpected honor
to have come my way since the publication of the Harry Potter books!"
wrote Rowling. "I am absolutely thrilled to think that Hogwarts has
made a small (claw?) mark upon the fascinating world of dinosaurs."
The nearly complete skull of the previously unknown dinosaur species
was discovered by three friends during a fossil collecting trip in
South Dakota and then donated to The Children's Museum of
Indianapolis.
When it was brought to the museum for cleaning and studying, it was
little more than a box of parts. It took two years to glue the many
fragments and restore the skull, museum officials said.
The formal announcement of the name came Monday during the seventh
annual Federal Fossil Conference held in Albuquerque, N.M.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International
|
|
|
