[D] Dianchungosaurus lufengensis [dG] [T]
Describer
Young, 1928 [partim]
Time
Jurassic Early Hettangian Sinemurian Pliensbachian
Classification
Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Prosauropoda Nomina Dubia
Diet
Herbivore
Fossilsite
Dark Red Beds of the Lower Lufeng Formation [= Fengjiahe Formation], Dianzhong Basin, central Yunnan Province, China
Info
Genus - Typespecies - Skull
Fragmentary skull
Barrett, P.M. and Xu, X. (2005) A reassassment of Dianchungosaurus lufengensis an anigmatic reptile from the lower Lufeng Formation (Lower Jurassic) of Yunnan Province, People\\\'s Republic of China. JVP 25/2 pages 981-986.
Abstract
Dianchungosaurus lufengensis was erected on the basis of fragmentary isolated jaw elements (a left premaxilla and left and right partial lower jaws) from the Lower Lufeng Formation (Lower Jurassic) of Yunnan Province, China. Yang referred Dianchungosaurus to the Heterodontosauridae (Ornithischia Ornithopoda), as several features appeared to indicate affinity with the southern African genus Heterodontosaurus.
However, reexamination of the type material demonstrates that the holotype specimen of Dianchungosaurus represents a chimaera of prosauropod dinosaur and mesoeucrocodylian remains: the mesoeucrocodylian premaxilla is distinctive and allows the genus to be diagnosed on the basis of several autapomorphic features. Revision of this genus thereby invalidates the only reported occurrence of a heterodontosaurid dinosaur from Asia.
Young, 1928 [partim]
Time
Jurassic Early Hettangian Sinemurian Pliensbachian
Classification
Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Prosauropoda Nomina Dubia
Diet
Herbivore
Fossilsite
Dark Red Beds of the Lower Lufeng Formation [= Fengjiahe Formation], Dianzhong Basin, central Yunnan Province, China
Info
Genus - Typespecies - Skull
Fragmentary skull
Barrett, P.M. and Xu, X. (2005) A reassassment of Dianchungosaurus lufengensis an anigmatic reptile from the lower Lufeng Formation (Lower Jurassic) of Yunnan Province, People\\\'s Republic of China. JVP 25/2 pages 981-986.
Abstract
Dianchungosaurus lufengensis was erected on the basis of fragmentary isolated jaw elements (a left premaxilla and left and right partial lower jaws) from the Lower Lufeng Formation (Lower Jurassic) of Yunnan Province, China. Yang referred Dianchungosaurus to the Heterodontosauridae (Ornithischia Ornithopoda), as several features appeared to indicate affinity with the southern African genus Heterodontosaurus.
However, reexamination of the type material demonstrates that the holotype specimen of Dianchungosaurus represents a chimaera of prosauropod dinosaur and mesoeucrocodylian remains: the mesoeucrocodylian premaxilla is distinctive and allows the genus to be diagnosed on the basis of several autapomorphic features. Revision of this genus thereby invalidates the only reported occurrence of a heterodontosaurid dinosaur from Asia.