Sinankylosaurus Explained

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.

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.

Notes and 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. Chinese. 39. 7. 958–962.
  2. https://paleobiodb.org/classic/displayStrata?geological_group=Wangshi&group_formation_member=Wangshi Wangshi Group
  3. Web site: Shandong discovers new dinosaur with spikes!. 20 August 2020. yqqlm. 21 August 2020.
  4. Wenjie Zheng . Masateru Shibata . Chun-Chi Lao . Soki Hattori . Dongchun Jin . Changzhu Jin . Xing Xu . First definitive ankylosaurian dinosaur from the Cretaceous of Jilin Province, northeastern China. Cretaceous Research. 2021 . 127. 104953. 104953 . 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. 10.1007/s11434-009-3614-5. 2010ChSBu..55.1631X. 128972108.
  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.. Xu. X.. 2011. A new, large tyrannosaurine theropod from the Upper Cretaceous of China. Cretaceous Research. 32. 4. 495–503. 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 . 10.1371/journal.pone.0013835 . 21079798 . 2973951. 2010PLoSO...513835X . free .

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