[D] Tianyulong confuciusi [SG] [T]
Describer
Zheng, You, Xu & Dong 2009
Time
Cretaceous Early
Classification
Ornithischia Ornithopoda Heterodontosauridae
Diet
Herbivore
Fossilsite
Jehol Group , Jianchang County, Liaoning Province, China
Info
The heterodontosaurid, Tianyulong confuciusi, is dicovered in western Liaoning Province, China. Tianyulong extends the geographical distribution of heterodontosaurids to Asia and confirms the clade\\\'s previously questionable temporal range extension into the Early Cretaceous period. More surprisingly, Tianyulong bears long, singular and unbranched filamentous integumentary (outer skin) structures. This represents the first confirmed report, to our knowledge, of filamentous integumentary structures in an ornithischian dinosaur.
Etymology
The generic name refers to Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature (STMN; Pingyi, Shandong Province, China), where the specimen is housed; the specific name is dedicated to Confucius, the founder of Confucianism.
Holotype
STMN 26-3 is an incomplete skeleton preserving a partial skull and mandible, partial presacral vertebrae, proximal–middle caudal vertebrae, nearly complete right scapula, both humeri, the proximal end of the left ulna, partial pubes, both ischia, both femora, the right tibia and fibula and pes, and filamentous integumentary structures.
Diagnosis
A heterodontosaurid dinosaur distinguishable from other species in having a semi-circular diastema, a barely developed buccal emargination, a dorsally placed mandibular jaw joint well above the level of the dentary tooth row, only one premaxillary tooth (which is caniniform), a distinct gap between the dentary teeth and coronoid process, caudally increasing tooth sizes, and adjacent maxillary and dentary tooth crowns distinctly separate and lacking mesial and distal marginal denticles and ridges on the buccal surfaces.
Zheng, You, Xu & Dong 2009
Time
Cretaceous Early
Classification
Ornithischia Ornithopoda Heterodontosauridae
Diet
Herbivore
Fossilsite
Jehol Group , Jianchang County, Liaoning Province, China
Info
The heterodontosaurid, Tianyulong confuciusi, is dicovered in western Liaoning Province, China. Tianyulong extends the geographical distribution of heterodontosaurids to Asia and confirms the clade\\\'s previously questionable temporal range extension into the Early Cretaceous period. More surprisingly, Tianyulong bears long, singular and unbranched filamentous integumentary (outer skin) structures. This represents the first confirmed report, to our knowledge, of filamentous integumentary structures in an ornithischian dinosaur.
Etymology
The generic name refers to Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature (STMN; Pingyi, Shandong Province, China), where the specimen is housed; the specific name is dedicated to Confucius, the founder of Confucianism.
Holotype
STMN 26-3 is an incomplete skeleton preserving a partial skull and mandible, partial presacral vertebrae, proximal–middle caudal vertebrae, nearly complete right scapula, both humeri, the proximal end of the left ulna, partial pubes, both ischia, both femora, the right tibia and fibula and pes, and filamentous integumentary structures.
Diagnosis
A heterodontosaurid dinosaur distinguishable from other species in having a semi-circular diastema, a barely developed buccal emargination, a dorsally placed mandibular jaw joint well above the level of the dentary tooth row, only one premaxillary tooth (which is caniniform), a distinct gap between the dentary teeth and coronoid process, caudally increasing tooth sizes, and adjacent maxillary and dentary tooth crowns distinctly separate and lacking mesial and distal marginal denticles and ridges on the buccal surfaces.