Open Paleo

Huanansaurus

Lü et al., 2015 HWAH-nan-SOR-us

From Chinese Huanan (Southern China) combined with Greek sauros (lizard); meaning 'Southern China lizard'

72.2–66.0 million years ago Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous stages

Huanansaurus is an extinct genus of oviraptorid dinosaur that lived approximately 72 million years ago, between the Campanian and Maastrichtian, during the latter part of the Cretaceous period in what is now China, in the Nanxiong Formation.

Diagnosis

  1. Mandibular condyles of quadrate posterior to occipital condyle
  2. Pronounced nuchal transverse crest
  3. Angular contributes extensively to external mandibular fenestra border
  4. Dentary anterodorsal tip projecting anterodorsally at ≤45° to symphysis ventral margin
  5. Pneumatized dentaries
  6. Metacarpal I long and slender, diameter 20% of length
  7. Posteroventral branch of dentary twisted, lateral surface facing somewhat ventrally
  8. Symphyseal shelf of mandible intermediate length, 20-25% of total mandible length
  9. Proximodorsal extensor 'lip' on each manual ungual prominent with distinct slope change
  10. Circular supratemporal fenestra much smaller than lower temporal fenestra

Species

Huanansaurus ganzhouensis Lü et al., 2015

Type species

Named for Ganzhou, the city in Jiangxi Province, China, where the holotype was uncovered during railway construction.

Holotype
HGM 41HIII-0443 , Henan Geological Museum
Material
Partial skeleton with nearly complete skull
Horizon
Nanxiong Formation, Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous , 72.2–66.0 million years ago
Locality
Ganzhou Railway Station, Jiangxi, China

References

  1. Lü, J.; Pu, H.; Kobayashi, Y.; Xu, L.; Chang, H.; Shang, Y.; Liu, D.; Lee, Y. N.; Kundrát, M.; Shen, C. (2015). A New Oviraptorid Dinosaur (Dinosauria: Oviraptorosauria) from the Late Cretaceous of Southern China and Its Paleobiogeographical Implications. Scientific Reports 5(1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi:10.1038/srep11490 lü2015b
  2. Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Theropods. Princeton University Press.

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

    jones2026c