Chinese paleontologists discovered the largest Jurassic dinosaur fossil in the country so far, in the northwestern region of Xinjiang. [Photo: Xinhua]

This region is where Chinese and German experts unearthed the largest cluster of fossilized dinosaur tracks in China in 2008. The footprints were left by smaller-sized Jurassic carnosaurs. Most of the footprints are in three-toe shape and each footprint has three big and protruding toes with sharp claws.

Prof. Dong Zhiming, one of the discoverers of Shanshanosaur, a lizard-like carnivore, said the new discovery showed that the Turpan Basin had more favorable living conditions than previously known regions of southwestern Sichuan and Yunnan provinces for herbivorous sauropod dinosaurs in the late Jurassic period.

The expedition team has discovered more than 20 fossil sites in Shanshan, and unearthed more than 100 fossils of the terrapin species.

Dong said the findings suggested the dry Turpan Basin was once dotted with lakes and covered by lush green plants during the Jurassic Period, which was enough to feed the huge appetite of giant herbivorous dinosaurs.

Li Tingdong, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said the dinosaur fossil research in Shanshan would provide important evidence for the research of Jurassic stratum and climate, and give clues for exploring oil and coal deposits in the region.

More than 40 officials and experts from China's top paleontologist research societies and Berlin Humboldt University attended the press conference.