Yuanyanglong bainian a New Oviraptorosaur from Mongolia

Scientists have named a brand new species of oviraptorosaur from Interior Mongolia (China).  This new theropod has been named Yuanyanglong bainian.  The species identify 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, Interior Mongolia.  Phylogenetic evaluation means that it’s a sister taxon to the clade shaped by the Caenagathoidea and the Avimimidae.  It was a small dinosaur standing lower than a metre excessive.

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Yuanyanglong bainian

The analysis workforce, writing within the tutorial journal Cretaceous Analysis recognized a number of distinctive autapomorphies within the fossilised bones.  For instance, the hindlimbs are proportionately elongated and so they have fused decrease segments.  As well as, the ilium (a part of the pelvic girdle) has a a lot decreased postacetabular course of.  This mix of anatomical traits shouldn’t be 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.  Nevertheless, the potential weight loss plan of this theropod can solely be inferred presently.  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 identify 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 identify “lengthy” is a transliteration of the Chinese language phrase for dragon.  The species or trivial identify “bainian” interprets as “100 years”, reflecting 100 years for the reason that naming of the primary oviraptorosaur taxon Oviraptor philoceratops.

Image credit score: All the things Dinosaur

Uncommon Dinosaur Fossils

The Maortu locality in Chilantai, western Interior Mongolia has produced different vertebrate fossil stays.  Nevertheless, 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, strong animal.  It might have been over six metres in size and weighed in extra of three tonnes.

A spokesperson from All the things Dinosaur commented that additional evaluation of vertebrate fossil stays from the Maortu locality would doubtless outcome within the saying of recent dinosaur taxa.

To learn an article from 2016 concerning the discovery of a oviraptorosaur from southern China (Tongtianlong limosus) that supplied 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 Interior 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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