#dragonman

"Hello treasure"

The dragon patiently waited for you to wake up. Excited to finally have something new to add into his ever growing collection ~

BT22-013 | WarGreymon

Mega | Vaccine | Dragonkin | CS

Rare | Red

Ha-hah... What if i had a stupid idea to draw my dumbasses as chibi kitties? What is They were moving too?... Silly lil idea with silly little guys. Little self indulgent thing 👉👈

Source: edition.cnn.com

Fossil Discovery Sheds Light on Denisovan Identity

A skull unearthed in northeastern China is offering groundbreaking insight into one of humanity’s most elusive ancient relatives—the Denisovans. The fossil, known as the “Dragon Man” skull, was first discovered in 1933 by a laborer in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, and hidden in a well for safekeeping. It remained a secret for decades until resurfacing in 2018. Initially, the skull’s features did not match any known prehistoric human species. Researchers, intrigued by its unique shape and size, classified it as Homo longi in 2021.

However, a recent breakthrough in DNA recovery has dramatically shifted the conversation. After several failed attempts, scientists successfully extracted mitochondrial DNA from dental calculus (hardened plaque) on the fossil’s tooth. This analysis revealed a genetic link to Denisovans, a group of archaic humans previously known only from fragmentary fossils and genetic data. The finding could finally offer a face to a long-enigmatic species that lived alongside modern humans and Neanderthals.

Genetic Breakthrough Confirms Denisovan Connection

In two pivotal studies published on Wednesday in Cell and Science, researchers detail how the Dragon Man’s mitochondrial DNA and protein fragments resemble those found in known Denisovan specimens. Though mitochondrial DNA reveals only the maternal lineage, experts like Smithsonian paleoanthropologist Ryan McRae believe the skull is unlikely to belong to a hybrid and is more likely a full Denisovan.

Previous Denisovan fossils, such as a pinkie bone found in Siberia’s Denisova Cave in 2010, offered scant clues about the species’ appearance. Now, the Harbin skull’s robust features—thick brow ridges, a brain comparable in size to Homo sapiens and Neanderthals, and unusually large teeth—paint a fuller picture of what these ancient humans may have looked like.

Researchers emphasize the importance of the new findings. “This is the most complete Denisovan fossil we have,” said Chris Stringer of the Natural History Museum in London. Qiaomei Fu, the study’s lead author, highlighted the challenge of extracting DNA from fossils older than 100,000 years, noting that only four such sites globally have yielded ancient DNA. The successful use of dental calculus opens new avenues for studying other ancient remains.

Redefining an Ancient Human Lineage

The revelation that Dragon Man is likely Denisovan has sparked debate over naming conventions. Some scientists propose that the species be officially named Homo longi, given its link to the fossil found in Harbin. While the term “Denisovan” will likely remain in use, its informal status may shift as more molecular evidence emerges.

The discovery holds broader implications for understanding human evolution. Denisovans, along with Neanderthals, interbred with early Homo sapiens, and their DNA is still present in many modern humans today. With the Dragon Man skull now tied to Denisovans, scientists can better classify similar fossils across Asia and refine the evolutionary tree.

flag id: two flags with 5 stripes. the left flag's stripes are dark green, medium dark red, red-orange, light sky blue, and sky blue. the right flag's stripes are dark green, medium dark red, red-orange, light red-pink, and red-pink. end id.

banner id: a 1500x150 teal banner with the words ‘please read my dni before interacting’ in large white text in the center. end id.

dragonboy | dragongirl

decided to make these based on that last request! they're similar to terms like dogboy and doggirl, but for dragons. the top three stripes represent dragons and the bottom two represent boys/girls respectively!

The finale of this series has finally arrived and I’ve been saving on of your favorite characters for last. That’s right it’s time to see the dragon emperor himself Kaoru Hanayama! Loved giving this guy dragon wings and horns because it makes this big boy feel even bigger.