[D] Datousaurus bashanensis [Su] [sG] [T]
Describer
Dong & Tang, 1984
Time
Jurassic Middle Bathonian Callovian
Classification
Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Sauropoda Cetiosauridae Shunosaurinae
Diet
Herbivore
Fossilsite
Xiashaximiao Formation, Sichuan, China
Length
15 meter
Info
Genus - Typespecies - Skull
Datousaurus bashanensis (Dong & Tang, 1984) = Lancangosaurus (Dong, Zhou & Zhang, 1983)
2 partial skeletons without skulls, ?jaws.
Discovered along with Shunosaurus lii at Dashanpu, Datousaurus bashanensis was described in a 1984 paper by Dong and IVPP paleontologist Tang Zilou. Presently classified as a cetiosaurid, Datousaurus is known from a fairly complete skeleton and a skull.
The skeleton is about 14 meters long with a somewhat longer neck than that of Shunosaurus, composed of 13 vertebrae. Datousaurus bashanensis represents a second and much rarer sauropod from the Middle Jurassic of China than Shunosaurus.
A skull attributed to this dinosaur was found some distance from the rest of the body. Some scientists feel that the skull may actually be from a different genus than the body. The body is very close to diplodocid in structure and it may eventually be reclassified if it is discovered that the skull actually belongs to a different dinosaur.
Revised diagnosis by Peng, G.; Ye, Y.; Gao, Y.; Shu, C. & Jiang, S. (2005)
Large-sized sauropd recognized by big and heavily built skull; short but high facial region; anteriorly positioned extrenal naris; small antorbital fenestra; quadrate slightly inclined forward; robust premaxilla and maxilla; deep and heavily built lower jaws lacking external mandibular fenestra; big and spoon-shaped teeth with higher crown; dental formula Pm4 + M10~12 / D12~14; 12 cervicals, 13 dorsals, 5 sacrals and more than 45 caudals; moderately elobgated cervicals with longest one about 2.5 times of average length of dorsals; opistocoelous cervical centra with developed pleurocoels and ventral keels; relaticely low cervical neural arches and spines with developed lamellar structures; spines of posterior cervicals and anterior dorsals transversely broadened but not bifurcated; weakly opistocoelous or plateocoelous dorsal centra with weak pleurocoels; neural spines of posterior dorsals high and bar-like; all sacral centra and arches and first four spines fused; weakly amphicoelous anterior caudals with short and high centra; elongate scapula; oval-shaped coracoid; low and elongate ilium with developed pubic peduncle and plate-like ischial peduncle; and bones of limbs relatively straight and robust.
Holotype
An incomplete skeleton and an incomplete skull IVPP V 7262 and V 7263.
Included material
Including two individuals: 1. CV 00740, an incomplete skull 2. ZDM 5021, a complete skeleton.
Locality and horizon
Dashanpu, Zigong, Xiashaximiao Formation, Middle Jurassic
Dong & Tang, 1984
Time
Jurassic Middle Bathonian Callovian
Classification
Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Sauropoda Cetiosauridae Shunosaurinae
Diet
Herbivore
Fossilsite
Xiashaximiao Formation, Sichuan, China
Length
15 meter
Info
Genus - Typespecies - Skull
Datousaurus bashanensis (Dong & Tang, 1984) = Lancangosaurus (Dong, Zhou & Zhang, 1983)
2 partial skeletons without skulls, ?jaws.
Discovered along with Shunosaurus lii at Dashanpu, Datousaurus bashanensis was described in a 1984 paper by Dong and IVPP paleontologist Tang Zilou. Presently classified as a cetiosaurid, Datousaurus is known from a fairly complete skeleton and a skull.
The skeleton is about 14 meters long with a somewhat longer neck than that of Shunosaurus, composed of 13 vertebrae. Datousaurus bashanensis represents a second and much rarer sauropod from the Middle Jurassic of China than Shunosaurus.
A skull attributed to this dinosaur was found some distance from the rest of the body. Some scientists feel that the skull may actually be from a different genus than the body. The body is very close to diplodocid in structure and it may eventually be reclassified if it is discovered that the skull actually belongs to a different dinosaur.
Revised diagnosis by Peng, G.; Ye, Y.; Gao, Y.; Shu, C. & Jiang, S. (2005)
Large-sized sauropd recognized by big and heavily built skull; short but high facial region; anteriorly positioned extrenal naris; small antorbital fenestra; quadrate slightly inclined forward; robust premaxilla and maxilla; deep and heavily built lower jaws lacking external mandibular fenestra; big and spoon-shaped teeth with higher crown; dental formula Pm4 + M10~12 / D12~14; 12 cervicals, 13 dorsals, 5 sacrals and more than 45 caudals; moderately elobgated cervicals with longest one about 2.5 times of average length of dorsals; opistocoelous cervical centra with developed pleurocoels and ventral keels; relaticely low cervical neural arches and spines with developed lamellar structures; spines of posterior cervicals and anterior dorsals transversely broadened but not bifurcated; weakly opistocoelous or plateocoelous dorsal centra with weak pleurocoels; neural spines of posterior dorsals high and bar-like; all sacral centra and arches and first four spines fused; weakly amphicoelous anterior caudals with short and high centra; elongate scapula; oval-shaped coracoid; low and elongate ilium with developed pubic peduncle and plate-like ischial peduncle; and bones of limbs relatively straight and robust.
Holotype
An incomplete skeleton and an incomplete skull IVPP V 7262 and V 7263.
Included material
Including two individuals: 1. CV 00740, an incomplete skull 2. ZDM 5021, a complete skeleton.
Locality and horizon
Dashanpu, Zigong, Xiashaximiao Formation, Middle Jurassic