Xingtianosaurus
Named after Xingtian, a Chinese deity who continued to fight after being decapitated, referencing the skull-less holotype specimen, plus Greek sauros ('lizard')
Early Cretaceous stages
Xingtianosaurus is an extinct genus of oviraptorosaurian theropod dinosaur that lived in what is now China during the Early Cretaceous. The type and only species, X. ganqi, was named and described in 2019. It was placed in the Caudipteridae, alongside Caudipteryx and Similicaudipteryx.
Diagnosis
- Small pleurocoel close to the dorsal edge of the lateral surface of the dorsal vertebral centrum
- Humerus longer than the scapula
- Proportionally long ulna subequal in length to the humerus
- Relatively small radiale angle of approximately 39° compared to >48° in other oviraptorosaurs
- Extremely short metacarpal I less than 40% the length of metacarpal II
- Small ligament pits on the manual phalanges, dorsally located
Species
Xingtianosaurus ganqi Qiu et al., 2019
Type species
Named for the ganqi, the battle axe wielded by the Chinese deity Xingtian, referencing both the weapon and the skull-less state of the holotype specimen.
- Holotype
- IVPP V13390 , Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology
- Material
- A partial skeleton, missing the skull, cervical vertebrae, anterior dorsal vertebrae and coracoids.
- Horizon
- Dawangzhangzi Member, Yixian Formation, Barremian, Early Cretaceous , 125.8–121.4 million years ago
- Locality
- Wangjiagou, Liaoning, China
References
- Qiu, R.; Wang, X.; Wang, Q.; Li, N.; Zhang, J.; Ma, Y. (2019). A new caudipterid from the Lower Cretaceous of China with information on the evolution of the manus of Oviraptorosauria. Scientific Reports 9(1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-42547-6 qiu2019a