[D] Zhongyuansaurus luoyangensis [Su] [sG] [T]
Describer
Xu, Lü, Zhang, Jia, Hu, Zhang, Wu & Ji Q., 2007
Time
Cretaceous Early Cretaceous Late
Classification
Ornithischia Thyreophora Eurypoda Ankylosauria Nodosauridae
Diet
Herbivore
Fossilsite
The Luo river area south of Yellow River, Ruyang, Henan Province, China
Info
Genus - Typespecies -Skull
Zhongyuansaurus luoyangensis is known from remains including skull, arm, pelvic, and tail bones. It is distinguished by characteristics such as a flat roof to the skull, a straight ischium, and the location of muscle attachments on the upper arm.
The skull morphology of Zhongyuansaurus luoyangensis and the tail structure of it indicate that it is nodosaurid ankylosaur. It is distinguished from other nodosaurid ankylosaurs by ratio of skull length width about 1.4 : 1; the parietal area flat; the posterior margin and the lateral margins lateral to the orbits straight in dorsal view; the widths of humerus almost similar in both the proximal and dostal ends, the attachements of M. latissimus dorsi and M. teres major on the posterior surface of the proximal end of humerus are concave, and the shaft of the ischium straight.
Etymology
The species name refers to the Luo river