Open Paleo

Borealosaurus

You et al., 2004 bor-EE-uh-lo-SAWR-us

From Greek Boreas meaning 'north wind' and Greek sauros meaning 'lizard'. Full meaning: 'northern lizard', referring to its northern China origin.

113.2–100.5 million years ago Albian, Early Cretaceous
Early Cretaceous stages

Borealosaurus is a genus of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of northern China. The type species is Borealosaurus wimani, which was named in 2004.

Diagnosis

  1. Opisthocoelous mid-distal caudal vertebrae (unique among sauropods at time of description)
  2. Convex proximal articular condyle on mid-distal caudal centrum approximately 2.5 cm in proximodistal length
  3. Neural arch situated on the proximal half of the mid-distal caudal centrum
  4. Neural spine oriented more distally than dorsally, positioned above distal half of centrum
  5. Neural arch height from apex of neural spine to dorsal margin of centrum approximately two-fifths the height of the centrum

Species

Borealosaurus wimani You et al., 2004

Type species

Named for Swedish paleontologist Carl Wiman, who named the first Chinese dinosaur.

Holotype
LPM 0167 , Liaoning Paleontological Museum
Material
A mid-distal caudal vertebra with strongly opisthocoelous centrum, convex proximal articular condyle, neural arch on proximal half of centrum, and distally oriented neural spine.
Horizon
Sunjiawan Formation, Albian, Early Cretaceous , 113.2–100.5 million years ago
Locality
Shuangmiao, Beipiao, Liaoning, China

References

  1. You, H.; Ji, Q.; Lamanna, M. C.; Li, J.; Li, Y. (2004). A titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur with opsithocoelous caudal vertebrae from the early Late Cretaceous of Liaoning province, China. Acta Geologica Sinica (English Edition) 78(4): 907-911. doi:10.1111/j.1755-6724.2004.tb00212.x you2004a
  2. Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Sauropods. Princeton University Press.

    Source of the body length, mass, and hip height estimates.

    jones2026b