Biology:Sinankylosaurus

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Short description: Extinct genus of dinosaurs

Sinankylosaurus
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous
~77.3–73.5 Ma
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: Ornithischia
Clade: Thyreophora
Suborder: Ankylosauria
Genus: Sinankylosaurus
Wang et al., 2020
Species:
S. zhuchengensis
Binomial name
Sinankylosaurus zhuchengensis
Wang et al., 2020

Sinankylosaurus (meaning "Chinese fused lizard") is a genus of dinosaur, originally described as an ankylosaur, from the Late Cretaceous Hongtuya Formation of Shandong, China. The genus contains a single species, Sinankylosaurus zhuchengensis, known from a nearly complete right ilium. The describers claim that the discovery of Sinankylosaurus further demonstrates the similarity between dinosaurs of eastern Asia and western North America.[1]

Discovery and naming

Beginning in 1964, paleontologists conducted large-scale excavations in Zhucheng and discovered an abundant source of fossils; notably dinosaur fossils.[2] ZJZ-183, the holotype specimen, was discovered with the Zhuchengtyrannus holotype in the Upper Cretaceous Wangshi Group (specifically the Hongtuya Formation[1]) in Zhucheng, Shandong Province, China around 2010.[3] The fossil was prepared during the following years and was later described in 2020.[1]

Description

Because it is only known from an ilium, the external appearance of Sinankylosaurus remains unknown. Its describers noted similarities with other ankylosaur ilia, but a 2021 study did not consider it an ankylosaur and called it a nomen dubium.[4]

Paleoecology

Sinankylosaurus is known from the Hongtuya Formation, part of the Wangshi Group of southern China. Other animals from this group include Sinoceratops, a ceratopsian,[5] Shantungosaurus, a very common hadrosaurid to which most of the material has been assigned,[6] Zhuchengtyrannus, an Asian tyrannosaurid related to Tarbosaurus,[7] Zhuchengceratops, an Asian leptoceratopsid,[8] and material tentatively assigned to Tyrannosaurus.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Wang, K. B.; Zhang, Y. X.; Chen, J.; Chen, S. Q.; Wang, P. Y. (2020). "A new ankylosaurian from the Late Cretaceous strata of Zhucheng, Shandong Province" (in Chinese). Geological Bulletin of China 39 (7): 958–962. http://dzhtb.cgs.cn/gbcen/ch/reader/create_pdf.aspx?file_no=20200703&flag=1&year_id=2020&quarter_id=7. 
  2. Wangshi Group in the Paleobiology Database
  3. "Shandong discovers new dinosaur with spikes!". yqqlm. 20 August 2020. http://www.yqqlm.com/2020/08/shandong-discovers-new-dinosaur-with-spikes/. [|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
  4. Wenjie Zheng; Masateru Shibata; Chun-Chi Lao; Soki Hattori; Dongchun Jin; Changzhu Jin; Xing Xu (2021). "First definitive ankylosaurian dinosaur from the Cretaceous of Jilin Province, northeastern China". Cretaceous Research 127 (104953): 104953. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2021.104953. 
  5. Xu, X., Wang, K., Zhao, X. & Li, D. (2010). "First ceratopsid dinosaur from China and its biogeographical implications". Chinese Science Bulletin 55 (16): 1631–1635. doi:10.1007/s11434-009-3614-5. Bibcode2010ChSBu..55.1631X. 
  6. Hu, C.C. (1973). "[A new hadrosaur from the Cretaceous of Chucheng, Shantung]". Acta Geologica Sinica 2: 179–206. 
  7. Hone, D. W. E.; Wang, K.; Sullivan, C.; Zhao, X.; Chen, S.; Li, D.; Ji, S.; Ji, Q. et al. (2011). "A new, large tyrannosaurine theropod from the Upper Cretaceous of China". Cretaceous Research 32 (4): 495–503. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2011.03.005. 
  8. Xing Xu; Kebai Wang; Xijin Zhao; Corwin Sullivan; Shuqing Chen (2010). "A New Leptoceratopsid (Ornithischia: Ceratopsia) from the Upper Cretaceous of Shandong, China and Its Implications for Neoceratopsian Evolution". PLOS ONE 5 (11): e13835. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0013835. PMID 21079798. Bibcode2010PLoSO...513835X. 

Wikidata ☰ Q98380891 entry