Open Paleo

Xingxiulong

Wang et al., 2017 sheeng-SHAH-long

Named for the Xingxiu Bridge (Xingxiu meaning 'constellation' in Chinese) in Yunnan, China, combined with Chinese 'long' meaning 'dragon'.

201.4–199.5 million years ago Hettangian, Early Jurassic
Early Jurassic stages

Xingxiulong is a genus of bipedal massopodan sauropodomorph from the Early Jurassic of China. The type species, X. chengi, was described by Wang and colleagues in 2017 from three specimens, two adults and an immature individual, that collectively constitute a mostly complete skeleton. Adults of this species measured 4-5 meters (13-16 ft) long and 1-1.5 meters (3.3-4.9 ft) tall.

Under dispute

Xingxiulong chengi was described as a basal sauropodiform, sister to Jingshanosaurus (Wang and colleagues, 2017), but a basal massopodan position is only slightly less parsimonious and is recovered by some analyses (Wang and colleagues, 2025).

Diagnosis

  1. Transversely expanded plate-like summit on top of posterior dorsal neural spines
  2. Four sacral vertebrae with two primordial sacrals bounded by dorsosacral and caudosacral
  3. Robust scapula with both ends extremely expanded
  4. Ilium with ventral margin of postacetabular process strongly concave
  5. Pubis with elongated proximal pubic plate approximately 40% of total pubic length
  6. Posterolateral process of distal tibia much narrower and extended more laterally and distally than anterolateral process
  7. Metatarsal V with markedly expanded proximal end approximately 85% of total length
  8. Angular and surangular extended more anteriorly beyond external mandibular fenestra

Species (2)

Xingxiulong chengi Wang et al., 2017

Type species

Named for Professor Zheng-Wu Cheng, who made major contributions to the biostratigraphy of China, including that of the Lufeng area, and died in 2015.

Holotype
LFGT-D0002 , Bureau of Natural Resources of Lufeng County (formerly Bureau of Land and Resources of Lufeng County)
Material
Partial skull and mandible; postcranial skeleton including atlas-axis complex, cervical, dorsal, sacral and caudal vertebrae; ribs, chevrons, ilium, pubis, ischium, femora, tibiae, fibulae, tarsals, and complete pes
Horizon
lower Shawan Member, Lufeng Formation, Hettangian, Early Jurassic , 201.4–199.5 million years ago
Locality
near Sankeshu (Three Trees) Village, Yunnan, China

Xingxiulong yueorum Chen et al., 2025

Named for the brothers and sisters of Yue, who collected, prepared and protected the dinosaur fossils of Lufeng, including the holotype.

Holotype
LF2015-NO01 , Bureau of Natural Resources of Lufeng County (formerly Bureau of Land and Resources of Lufeng County)
Material
An articulated postcranial skeleton of 13 dorsal vertebrae with 11 pairs of dorsal ribs, four sacral vertebrae, 20 caudal vertebrae with 20 chevrons, a partial left scapula, and both pelvic girdles and hindlimbs.
Horizon
Zhangjiawa Member, Lufeng Formation, Hettangian–Sinemurian, Early Jurassic , 201.4–192.9 million years ago The age of the containing rock unit; no finer age has been published.
Locality
Erzuanshan, northwest of Lufeng City, Yunnan, China
Diagnosis
  1. Pendant-shaped fourth trochanter with a distal termination (more rounded in X. chengi)
  2. Almost straight dorsal margin on the posterior surface of the astragalus
  3. Two phalanges in pedal digit V (one in X. chengi)

References

  1. Wang, Y. M.; You, H. L.; Wang, T. (2017). A new basal sauropodiform dinosaur from the Lower Jurassic of Yunnan Province, China. Scientific Reports 7(1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi:10.1038/srep41881 wang2017a
  2. Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Sauropods. Princeton University Press.

    Source of the mass estimate.

    jones2026b
  3. Wang, Y. M.; Zhang, Q. N.; Wang, Y. C.; Xu, H.; Chen, J.; Feng, Z.; Xu, X.; Wang, T.; You, H. L. (2025). A new Early Jurassic dinosaur represents the earliest-diverging and oldest sauropodomorph of East Asia. Scientific Reports 15(1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-12185-2

    Recovered Xingxiulong chengi among basal massopodans as a near-equally parsimonious position.

    wang2025a
  4. Chen, X.-Y.; Wang, Y.-M.; Zhang, Q.-N.; Wang, T.; You, H.-L. (2025). A new species of Xingxiulong (Dinosauria, Sauropodomorpha) from the lower Jurassic Lufeng formation of Yunnan Province, China. Historical Biology 37(12): 2800-2809. doi:10.1080/08912963.2025.2458130

    Names Xingxiulong yueorum on a partial articulated postcranial skeleton from Erzuanshan, Lufeng.

    chen2025b