Open Paleo

Xinjiangtitan

Wu et al., 2013 SHEEN-JEE-yong-TI-tuhn

From Xinjiang, the autonomous region of northwestern China where it was found, and titan ('giant'), meaning 'Xinjiang titan'

165.3–154.8 million years ago Callovian–Oxfordian, Middle Jurassic–Late Jurassic
Middle Jurassic and Late Jurassic stages

Xinjiangtitan is an extinct genus of mamenchisaurid sauropod that lived during the Middle Jurassic of what is now Xinjiang, northwestern China. Its type and only species is Xinjiangtitan shanshanesis (Chinese: 鄯善新疆巨龙; pinyin: Shànshàn Xīnjiāngjùlóng), known from a single incomplete skeleton from the Shanshan area of the Turpan Basin. The holotype preserves one of the most complete vertebral columns of any sauropod found in Asia, and has the longest complete neck known for any animal.

Diagnosis

  1. Ventral keel developed at posterior 1/4 of penultimate cervical centrum, forming small semicircular projection under distal articular facet
  2. Last two cervical vertebrae very elongated (sum of lengths is 63% of combined femur and tibia length)
  3. First dorsal rib does not participate in forming sternal plate
  4. Femur very robust with maximum distal width 33% of femoral length
  5. Four dorsal vertebrae present (opisthocoelous and not fused to one another)
  6. First and second sacral ribs simultaneously connected to second sacral rib, with first sacral rib not participating in sacrocostal yoke
  7. Pubis very flat with well-developed ambiens process extending distally
  8. Fourth trochanter located on posteromedial edge of femur

Species

Xinjiangtitan shanshanesis Wu et al., 2013

Type species

Named for Shanshan County (also known by the ancient Shanshan Kingdom name), the area in Xinjiang, China, where the holotype was found.

Holotype
SSV12001 , Shanshan Geological Museum
Material
An incomplete skeleton including the last 2 cervical vertebrae; all dorsal vertebrae and sacral vertebrae; proximal 2 caudal vertebrae; left and right ischium; left ilium; left femur, tibia, fibula, and 1 metatarsal; several cervical and dorsal ribs.
Horizon
Qigu Formation, Callovian–Oxfordian, Middle Jurassic–Late Jurassic , 165.3–154.8 million years ago
Locality
about 8 km south of Qiketai Town, Xinjiang, China Wu and colleagues (2013) and both redescriptions place the holotype in the Qigu Formation, which Wu and colleagues list above the Qiketai. Maisch and Matzke (2019) instead give strata "attributed to the Qiketai Formation", without a source, calling the Qigu attribution of Xing and colleagues (2015) erroneous; Upchurch and colleagues (2021) follow them. Qiketai is also the town about 8 km north of the quarry.

References

  1. Wu, W. H.; Zhou, C. F.; Wings, O.; Sekiya, T.; Dong, Z. M. (2013). A new gigantic sauropod dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Shanshan, Xinjiang. Global Geology 32(3): 437-446. doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-5589.2013.03.002 wu2013a
  2. Zhang, X. Q.; Li, D. Q.; Xie, Y.; You, H. L. (2018). Redescription of the cervical vertebrae of the Mamenchisaurid Sauropod Xinjiangtitan shanshanesis Wu et al. 2013. Historical Biology. doi:10.1080/08912963.2018.1539970

    Redescribes the cervical vertebrae and relays the Qigu horizon.

    zhang2018b
  3. Zhang, X. Q.; Li, N.; Xie, Y.; Li, D. Q.; You, H. L. (2022). Redescription of the dorsal vertebrae of the mamenchisaurid sauropod Xinjiangtitan shanshanesis Wu et al. 2013. Historical Biology 36(1): 49-75. doi:10.1080/08912963.2022.2147428

    Redescribes the dorsal vertebrae and places the horizon in the middle beds of the Qigu Formation.

    zhang2022a
  4. Maisch, M. W.; Matzke, A. T. (2019). First record of a eusauropod (Dinosauria; Sauropoda) from the Upper Jurassic Qigu-Formation (southern Junggar Basin, China), and a reconsideration of Late Jurassic sauropod diversity in Xinjiang.

    Attributes the strata to the Qiketai Formation, calling the Qigu attribution erroneous.

    maisch2019a
  5. Upchurch, P.; Mannion, P. D.; Xu, X.; Barrett, P. M. (2021). Re-assessment of the Late Jurassic eusauropod dinosaur Hudiesaurus sinojapanorum Dong, 1997, from the Turpan Basin, China, and the evolution of hyper-robust antebrachia in sauropods. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 41(4). Informa UK Limited. doi:10.1080/02724634.2021.1994414

    Gives the holotype from the Qiketai Formation, citing Maisch and Matzke (2019).

    upchurch2021a
  6. Xing, L.; Miyashita, T.; Zhang, J.; Li, D.; Ye, Y.; Sekiya, T.; Wang, F.; Currie, P. J. (2015). A new sauropod dinosaur from the Late Jurassic of China and the diversity, distribution, and relationships of mamenchisaurids. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 35(1): e889701. Informa UK Limited. doi:10.1080/02724634.2014.889701 xing2015a
  7. Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Sauropods. Princeton University Press.

    Source of the appearance features.

    jones2026b