A remarkably well-preserved fossil of a giant panda, dating back over 10,000 years, has been discovered in a limestone cave in Shaanxi Province, northwest China.
The fossil was found deep within a cave in Chenggu County, Hanzhong City, resting on a limestone platform 180 meters below the surface. Over 90 percent of the skull and 70 percent of the overall skeleton remain intact, a rarity in paleontological findings.
Initial analysis of the skull, teeth, and sagittal crest suggests that the fossil belongs to an adult female giant panda. Researchers have estimated its age to be between 200,000 and 10,000 years old, placing it in the middle to late Pleistocene epoch.
This significant discovery provides invaluable insights into the evolutionary history and survival of giant pandas in the Qinling and Daba Mountains. The well-preserved condition of the fossil offers a rare opportunity for scientists to study the ancient biology and environment of these iconic animals.
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Giant panda fossil with nearly complete skeleton unearthed in NW China
cgtn.com
