Open Paleo

Yuzhoulong

Dai et al., 2022 yoo-zho-long

Named after Yuzhou, the ancient name for Chongqing, China, combined with Chinese long meaning 'dragon'; translates as 'Chongqing dragon'

170.9–154.8 million years ago Bajocian–Oxfordian, Middle Jurassic–Late Jurassic
Middle Jurassic and Late Jurassic stages

Yuzhoulong is a genus of macronarian sauropod dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic Shaximiao Formation of Chongqing, China. The type and only species is Yuzhoulong qurenensis.

Diagnosis

  1. Two similar-sized accessory fossae on posterior surface of dorsal diapophyses of anterior dorsal vertebrae
  2. Accessory lamina connecting spinopostzygapophyseal lamina and diapophysis of middle dorsal vertebrae
  3. Preacetabular process of ilium prominent dorsolaterally twisted, nearly perpendicular to iliac blade
  4. Anteriormost dorsal neural spine bifurcated; anterior dorsal spines transversely extended with sub-parallel lateral margins
  5. Proximodistal length of humeral shaft to femoral shaft ratio less than 0.6

Species

Yuzhoulong qurenensis Dai et al., 2022

Type species

Named for Quren, the ancient name of Yunyang County in Chongqing, China, where the holotype was discovered.

Holotype
CLGPR V00013 , Chongqing Laboratory of Geoheritage Protection and Research
Material
Partly preserved skull, 12 dorsal vertebrae, 1 sacral vertebra, 10 caudal vertebrae, left scapula, coracoid, humeri, ulna and radius, 3 metacarpals, left ilium, left and right pubis, ischia, femur and tibia, left fibula, dorsal ribs and chevrons
Horizon
lower Shaximiao Formation, Bajocian–Oxfordian, Middle Jurassic–Late Jurassic , 170.9–154.8 million years ago
Locality
Laojun Village, Pu'an Township, Yunyang County, Chongqing, China

References

  1. Dai, H.; Tan, C.; Xiong, C.; Ma, Q.; Li, N.; Yu, H.; Wei, Z.; Wang, P.; Yi, J.; Wei, G.; You, H.; Ren, X. (2022). New macronarian from the Middle Jurassic of Chongqing, China: phylogenetic and biogeographic implications for neosauropod dinosaur evolution. Royal Society Open Science 9(11). The Royal Society. doi:10.1098/rsos.220794 dai2022a
  2. Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Sauropods. Princeton University Press.

    Source of the body length, mass, and hip height estimates.

    jones2026b