World's 'smallest dinosaur' is actually a LIZARD scientists admit - Daily Mail

The world's 'smallest dinosaur' is actually a lizard, scientists have admitted in a retraction of the paper in which they misclassified the 99-million-year-old specimen.

Researchers had claimed the fossil skull — which is stunningly preserved in amber — came from a hummingbird-sized dinosaur they named 'Oculudentavis khaungraae'.

The original quarter-inch-sized specimen in question — dubbed 'HPG-15-3' — was unearthed amid the amber deposits of northern Myanmar's Hukawng Valley.

The authors assert that their description of the fossil creature — with its big eyes and dozens of teeth — remains correct, even if they misplaced it on the tree of life.

The world's 'smallest dinosaur' is actually a lizard, scientists have admitted in a retraction of the paper in which they misclassified the 99-million-year-old specimen, pictured.

The authors assert that their description of the fossil creature — with its big eyes and dozens of teeth, pictured — remains correct, even if they misplaced it on the tree of life.

Researchers had claimed the fossil skull — which is stunningly preserved in amber and smaller than a US penny — came from a hummingbird-sized dinosaur they named 'Oculudentavis khaungraae'.

However, she added, it will not be possible for the specimen to be reclassified until the data on the other fossil lizard has been published. .

Despite being stripped of its claim to the title of the 'world's smallest dinosaur', Professor O'Connor and colleagues said that HPG-15-3's unusual combination of features still recommend it for attention.

 The original quarter-inch-sized specimen in question — dubbed 'HPG-15-3' — was unearthed amid the amber deposits of northern Myanmar's Hukawng Valley?

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