Sinankylosaurus

Sinankylosaurus (meaning "Chinese fused lizard") is a genus of ankylosaurian dinosaur from the late Cretaceous Period of Shandong, China. The genus contains a single species, Sinankylosaurus zhuchengensis, known from a near-complete right illium. The describers explain that the discovery of Sinankylosaurus not only expands knowledge of Zhucheng dinosaur species, it also shows the similarity between dinosaurs of eastern Asia and North America.[1]

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

Discovery and naming

After entering the 21st century, starting in 1964, paleontologists conducted large-scale excavations in Zhucheng and discovered an abundant source of fossils; notably dinosaur fossils.[2] The holotype specimen (ZJZ-183) was discovered in the Upper Cretaceous Wangshi Group (specifically the Xingezhuang Formation[3]) in Zhucheng, Shandong Province, China around 2010.[4] The fossil was prepared during the following years and it was described in 2020.[1]

Description

Based on Pinacosaurus,[5] a contemporary relative of Sinankylosaurus, the latter would have grown to around 5 metres (16 ft) long and would have weighed no heavier than 2 tonnes (4,400 lb).[1]

Paleoecology

Sinankylosaurus is known from the Xingezhuang Formation of southern China. It is known from a single ilium. Alongside it, in the formation, lived Sinoceratops, a ceratopsian,[6] Shantungosaurus, a very common hadrosaurid to which most of the material has been assigned,[6][7] Zhuchengtyrannus, an Asian tyrannosaurid related to Tarbosaurus,[6] Zhuchengceratops, an Asian leptoceratopsid,[8] and Huaxiaosaurus,[9] a possible older individual of Shantungosaurus.[10][9] Other possible remains have been assigned to Zhuchengosaurus,[8] a probable junior synonym of Shantungosaurus,[10] and material tentatively assigned to Tyrannosaurus.[7]

References
  1. 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". Geological Bulletin of China (in Chinese). 39 (7): 958–962.
  2. Wangshi Group in the Paleobiology Database
  3. Zhao Xijin, Wang Kebai, & Li Dunjing. (2011). "Huaxiaosaurus aigahtens." Geological Bulletin of China 30 (11):1671-1688
  4. "Shandong discovers new dinosaur with spikes!". yqqlm. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  5. Gregory S. Paul (2010). The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs. United States of America: Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691137209.
  6. 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.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. Hu, C.C. (1973). "[A new hadrosaur from the Cretaceous of Chucheng, Shantung]". Acta Geologica Sinica. 2: 179–206.
  8. Zhao, X.; Li, D.; Han, G.; Zhao, H.; Liu, F.; Li, L. & Fang, X. (2007). "Zuchengosaurus maximus from Shandong Province". Acta Geoscientia Sinica. 28 (2): 111–122. doi:10.1007/s10114-005-0808-x.
  9. Zhao X.; Wang K. & Li D. (2011). "Huaxiaosaurus aigahtens". Geological Bulletin of China. 30 (11): 1671–1688.
  10. Holtz, T.R. Jr. (2012). Dinosaurs: The Most Complete, Up-to-Date Encyclopedia for Dinosaur Lovers of All Ages. Indiana University Press. p. 47. ISBN 978-0-375-82419-7.


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