Age of the Chinasaurs

China, which has become a treasure trove of dinosaur fossil findings, can claim global supremacy in the area of dinosaur discoveries.

This is thanks to the widespread construction work that has exposed rocks, and also greater government resources to fund expeditions over the past two decades.

China is now dubbed the world’s “Dinosaur Power” and a destination for international palaeontologists, some of whom have taken to calling it the “Age of the Chinasaurs”.

Figures provided by University of Pennsylvania dinosaur palaeontology professor Peter Dodson in 2010 showed China’s rapid ascension in the number of dinosaur types discovered. In 1990, 64 types were found in the United States; 44 in Mongolia; 36 in China. In 2006, China leapt to second spot with 101, trailing behind the US’ 108 and ahead of Mongolia’s 61.

By 2010, China was world leader with 132, followed by the US with 108 and Mongolia with 65.

In recent years, China has peeled further away from the chasing pack with several key dinosaur findings.