Scientists have named a brand new species of oviraptorosaur from Internal Mongolia (China). This new theropod has been named Yuanyanglong bainian. The species title recognises that it’s a hundred years for the reason that naming of the primary oviraptorosaur taxon. In 1924, Oviraptor philoceratops was named and formally described. Yuanyanglong is understood from two fossil specimens recovered from the Decrease Cretaceous Miaogou Formation. The fossils come from the Maortu locality in Chilantai, Internal Mongolia. Phylogenetic evaluation means that it’s a sister taxon to the clade fashioned by the Caenagathoidea and the Avimimidae. It was a small dinosaur standing lower than a metre excessive.
A scale drawing of the not too long ago described oviraptorosaur from Internal Mongolia Yuanyanglong bainian. Image credit score: Every part Dinosaur.
Image credit score: Every part Dinosaur
Yuanyanglong bainian
The analysis workforce, writing within the educational journal Cretaceous Analysis recognized a number of distinctive autapomorphies within the fossilised bones. For instance, the hindlimbs are proportionately elongated they usually have fused decrease segments. As well as, the ilium (a part of the pelvic girdle) has a a lot lowered postacetabular course of. This mixture of anatomical traits just isn’t recognized in different oviraptorosaurs, nonetheless, they’re present in extant wading birds. Yuanyanglong could have lived near our bodies of water.
One of many specimens PV02476-2 consists of a partial and poorly preserved cranium. Nonetheless, the potential food regimen of this theropod can solely be inferred at the moment. Preserved gastroliths just like these related to one other oviraptorosaur – Caudipteryx have been recovered. The analysis workforce have acknowledged that preliminary observations point out potential discrepancies within the digestion mode of early and late-diverging oviraptorosaurs.
The primary a part of the genus title is derived from “Yuanyang” the mandarin time period for lovebirds (Aix galericulata). These birds type lengthy bonds with their companions, a reference to the pair of skeletons discovered collectively. The second a part of the genus title “lengthy” is a transliteration of the Chinese language phrase for dragon. The species or trivial title “bainian” interprets as “100 years”, reflecting 100 years for the reason that naming of the primary oviraptorosaur taxon Oviraptor philoceratops.
A scale drawing of a typical oviraptorosaur (O. philoceratops). The species title of Yuanyanglong bainian commemorates the centenary of the naming of the primary oviraptorosaur. Image credit score: Every part Dinosaur.
Image credit score: Every part Dinosaur
Uncommon Dinosaur Fossils
The Maortu locality in Chilantai, western Internal Mongolia has produced different vertebrate fossil stays. Nonetheless, dinosaur fossils are uncommon. Some, as but, undescribed sauropod stays have been reported. As well as, three dinosaur taxa are recognized from this space. A theropod has been described (Shaochilong maortuensis), together with a hadrosaurid Probactrosaurus gobiensis. As well as, fossils of an armoured dinosaur have been discovered. Gobisaurus domoculus was named and formally described in 2001 (Vickaryous et al). Thought to be a member of the Ankylosauridae household Gobisaurus was a big, sturdy animal. It could have been over six metres in size and weighed in extra of three tonnes.
A spokesperson from Every part Dinosaur commented that additional evaluation of vertebrate fossil stays from the Maortu locality would doubtless end result within the asserting of latest dinosaur taxa.
To learn an article from 2016 in regards to the discovery of a oviraptorosaur from southern China (Tongtianlong limosus) that offered new insights into oviraptorosaur radiation: A Recent Perspective on Oviraptorosaur Radiation.
The scientific paper “A brand new oviraptorosaur from the Decrease Cretaceous Miaogou Formation of western Internal Mongolia, China” by Mingze Hao, Zhiyu Li, Zhili Wang, Shuqiong Wang, Feimin Ma, Qinggele, J. Logan King, Rui Pei, Qi Zhao and Xing Xu printed within the journal Cretaceous Analysis.
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