Chinese scientists have identified a new species of Early Jurassic sauropod dinosaur, named Xingxiulong yueorum, based on a fossilized skeleton found in the southwestern province of Yunnan.
The dinosaur was first discovered in 2015 in the city of Lufeng. This is a well-preserved skeleton located behind the head, extending from the second dorsal vertebra to the twentieth caudal vertebra, along with the left shoulder blade and almost complete waist and hind limbs.
Scientists believe that this creature belongs to the Xingxiulong from the Lower Jurassic period and shares some common features with previously discovered Xingxiulong chengyi, such as four sacral vertebrae. However, it also has its own unique features, including a flat dorsal edge of the astragalus and two ossified phalanges on the fifth toe.
In addition, the new species is larger, with an estimated length of 8 to 10 meters, compared to previous species that reach 4-5 meters in length.
The discovery was published online in the international journal Historical Biology in early February.
Lead researcher Yu Hailu of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences said the discovery increased the diversity of dinosaurs in southwestern China and provided new data for studying the evolution of sauropod dinosaurs.
