Wulong
From Chinese 'wu' meaning 'dancing' and 'long' meaning 'dragon', in reference to the specimen's sprightly preserved pose.
Early Cretaceous stages
Wulong is a genus of microraptorine dromaeosaurid dinosaurs from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian) Jiufotang Formation of China. The genus includes a single species, Wulong bohaiensis. The skeletal remains, which include preserved feathers, represent a juvenile.
Diagnosis
- Long jugal process of quadratojugal
- Cranially inclined pneumatic foramina on cranial half of dorsal centra
- Transverse processes of proximal caudals significantly longer than width of centrum
- Presence of 30 caudal vertebrae producing proportionally long tail
- Distally located and large posterior process of ischium
- Large supracoracoid fenestra (>15% of total area)
Species
Wulong bohaiensis Poust et al., 2020
Type species
Named for the Bohai Strait, near which the Dalian Natural History Museum housing the holotype is located.
- Holotype
- DNHM D2933 , Xinghai Paleontological Museum of Dalian
- Material
- Complete, articulated specimen
- Horizon
- Jiufotang Formation, Aptian, Early Cretaceous , 121.4–113.2 million years ago
- Locality
- Shangheshou, Liaoning, China
References
- Poust, A. W.; Gao, C.; Varricchio, D. J.; Wu, J.; Zhang, F. (2020). A new microraptorine theropod from the Jehol Biota and growth in early dromaeosaurids. The Anatomical Record 303(4): 963-987. Wiley. doi:10.1002/ar.24343 poust2020a
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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