18 Dec. 2017 A surprising discovery in southern Mongolia raises numerous questions among researchers. Halfway between a swan and a reptile with a hint of penguin, this new dinosaur species, called "Halszkaraptor escuilliei," could well reshape our understanding of evolution.

Fossils of a strange dinosaur were reportedly discovered in the Gobi region and identified as an entirely new species never before observed. This dinosaur belonged to a carnivorous species that lived during the Campanian period, approximately 80 million years ago. After careful analysis of the fossil, researchers were able to classify the dinosaur among velociraptors, small carnivorous dinosaurs.

What remains most striking about this discovery is its appearance. Halszkaraptor escu presented itself with penguin-like features complete with a long swan-like neck and two small wings that were not suited for flight. Its beak, furnished with tiny teeth, suggests the dinosaur was piscivorous (fed on fish). According to paleontologists, Halszkaraptor escu was equally capable of swimming and walking to hunt.

Paul Tafforeau, one of the paleontologists responsible for analyzing the fossil, declared: "It was undoubtedly capable of running very efficiently on land, unlike the duck […] It could also move through water, like penguins, using its long neck to search for food or to fish in ambush."

Could It Be a Fake?

The question of its authenticity has been raised since its discovery. This particular fossil was unfortunately not discovered underground by scientists but rather came from an illegal network and was purchased on the international fossil market.

Pascal Godefroit, member of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences in Brussels, declared: "The illicit trade in fossils represents a challenge for modern paleontology." He continued: "Illegally exported from Mongolie, Halszka spent time in private collections worldwide before being acquired in 2015 and offered to paleontologists for study and to prepare its return to Mongolie."

Purchased by François Escuillié, president of Eldonia, a company specializing in paleontology, researchers initially suspected a forgery. Indeed, organized fossil trafficking is a reality affecting China and Mongolie, with many criminals attempting to reconstruct fake fossils from animal bone fragments to resell them.

To determine the fossil's authenticity, paleontologists employed an infallible tool: the European Synchrotron in Grenoble. This process uses X-ray imaging technology to study and detect the smallest details of the skeleton. Paul Tafforeau explains: "It is currently the most powerful and precise method for revealing the finest details of a fossil without damaging it." The result confirmed that the fossil was indeed a dinosaur that lived during the Campanian period. Halszkaraptor escu is thus the first semi-aquatic dinosaur ever discovered.

Mongolia is far from finished surprising us and revealing its secrets.

Charlène Nomadays An SEO writer from the very beginning at Nomadays, who became content manager and head of the communications division, Charlène has accompanied the adventure since its inception with passion and dedication. After living seven years in Asia – from China to Thailand, passing through Mongolie and South Korea – she has made travel a way of being in the world. A lover of words, nature, and human connection, she strives to convey in her writing a sensitive, committed, and responsible vision of tourism. For her, each article is a bridge between curiosity, respect, and wonder.