Open Paleo

Shenzhousaurus

Ji et al., 2003 SHEN-ju-SOR-us

Named after Shenzhou, a poetic name for China, combined with Greek sauros, "lizard" — means "Shenzhou lizard"

125.8–121.4 million years ago Barremian, Early Cretaceous
Early Cretaceous stages

Shenzhousaurus is a genus of basal ornithomimosaurian theropod dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of China.The holotype (NGMC 97-4-002, National Geological Museum of China) was collected from near the bottom (fluvial beds) of the Yixian Formation (Aptian) at the Sihetun fossil site, Beipiao, western Liaoning Province. This specimen consists of a partial skeleton preserved on a sandstone slab in a "death pose," its head above the torso. The distal parts of the hindlimbs, distal portion of the tail, and the forelimbs (except for part of the right hand) and the pectoral girdle are missing. The head is crushed, exposing the left side obliquely.

Diagnosis

  1. Teeth restricted to anterior dentary (shared with Harpymimus)
  2. Straight ischium, postacetabular process gently curved rather than truncated
  3. Digit I shorter than digits II and III in hand (primitive condition for Tetanurae)
  4. Primitive manual proportions with metacarpal I much shorter than II or III

Species

Shenzhousaurus orientalis Ji et al., 2003

Type species

From Latin 'orientalis' meaning 'eastern', referring to the eastern origin of the specimen in China.

Holotype
NGMC 97-4-002 , National Geological Museum of China
Material
Partial skeleton on sandstone block with head above torso; missing distal hindlimbs, distal tail, and most forelimbs
Horizon
lower Yixian Formation, Barremian, Early Cretaceous , 125.8–121.4 million years ago
Locality
Sihetun, Liaoning, China

References

  1. Ji, Q.; Norell, M. A.; Makovicky, P. J.; Gao, K. Q.; Ji, S.; Yuan, C. (2003). An Early Ostrich Dinosaur and Implications for Ornithomimosaur Phylogeny. American Museum Novitates 3420(1). American Museum of Natural History (BioOne sponsored). doi:10.1206/0003-0082(2003)420<0001:aeodai>2.0.co;2 ji2003a
  2. Paul, G. S. (2024). The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs (3rd ed.). Princeton University Press.

    Source of the body length and mass estimates.

    paul2024a
  3. Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Theropods. Princeton University Press.

    Source of the hip height estimate.

    jones2026c