Fossil tooth found last year was from the Ornithischian dinosaur

A group of researchers today revealed a discovery of the first tooth fossil belonging to a dinosaur of the Ornithischian order in Malaysia.

The herbivorous dinosaur fossil was found at an area in Taman Negara, Pahang, in December last year.

Five researchers from the University of Malaya (UM), the Waseda University and Kumamoto University from Japan took part in the project.

One of the researchers from the UM's Department of Geology, Assoc Prof Dr Masatoshi Sone, said he was confident that the discovery would lead to the unveiling of other dinosaur fossils.

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Prof Masatoshi explaining the fossil found at a news conference at the University of Malaya. - Astro AWANI/Shahir Omar

The tooth fossil was measured to be 13mm-long and and 10.5mm-wide.

The Ornithischia dinosaur was said to have lived some 100 million to 110 million years ago.

Prof Masatoshi said he expected Malaysia will become the focus of scientists around the world following the discovery of this fossil.

Besides Pahang, other states like Terengganu, Johor and Kedah also became attractions for dinosaur fossil research.

Previously, a dinosaur tooth fossil of the Spinosaurid Therapod was found by the same research group in Pahang, not far from the same location.