[N] 2010 Tonganosaurus hei
Li, K.Yang, C.Y., Liu, J. & Wang, Z-X. (2010) A new sauropod from the Lower Jurassic of Huili, Sichuan, China. Vertebrate Palasiatica 7 pp185-202
Abstract: A new sauropod, Tonganosaurus hei gen. et sp. nov. from the Yimen Formation (Lower Jurassic) of Southern Sichuan, China is described on the basis of a collection of bones. These fossils include about 20 vertebrae, a complete right pectoral girdle and a right forelimb, the distal end of a left scapula, a pair of complete ischia, a complete right hindlimb, the proxmal and distal ends of a left femur, right metatarsals (mt. I, II, III and V), a right pedal ungual, and ten neural spine andrib fragments. The third cervical and anterior caudals are most simular in shape to those of the mamenchisaurid Omeisaurus (from the Middle Jurassic, Sichuan Basin), and quite differened from those of other sauropds. The material was therefore assigned to the family Mamenchisauridae Young and Chao, 1972 [Euhelopodidae] and a new genus and species was established. This represents the first discovery of a sauropod in the Lower Jurassic of China since Gongxianosaurus was found in Sichuan Basin. The Tonganosaurus material is of great importance for understanding the phylogenetics of the early Sauropoda.