[D] Dilong paradoxus [Su] [sG] [T]
Describer
Xu, Norell, Kuang, Wang, Zhao & Jia, 2004
Time
Cretaceous Early
Classification
Saurischia Theropoda Tyrannosauria Tyrannosauridae
Diet
Carnivore
Fossilsite
Grey Shale of the Yixian Formation, Liaoning, Lujiatun, Beipiao, China
Length
1.5 meter
Info
Genus - Typespecies - Skull
Holotype is a semi-articulated skeleton including an almost complete skull. A nearly complete skull with associated presacral vertebrae and a partial skull are also referred to this taxon, as is yet another specimen (IVPP V11579) The skulls resembling that of juvenile tyrannosauroids, the skeleton is somewhat similar to those of basal coelurosaurians
Small and gracile tyrannosaurid with relatively long arms and three-fingered hands. Chinese mythology: Dilong or Ti-Lung are earth dragons whose task it is to preside over rivers and streams. According to some accounts, they are the female counterpart of the Shenlong and they fly only in order to mate. Dilong derives from Mandarin words meaning \\\\\\\"emperor\\\\\\\" and \\\\\\\"dragon.\\\\\\\" Paradoxus refers to the unusual feathers found on one of the 5-foot-long (1.5-meter-long) specimen that was discovered in overlaying layers of the Lujiatun beds.
D.paradoxus is the earliest known unquestionable tyrannosauroid found so far (2004). One of the specimens also preserves a filamentous integumentary covering similar to that of other coelurosaurian theropods from western Liaoning. This provides the first direct fossil evidence that tyrannosauroids had protofeathers.Dilong\\\\\\\'s anatomy includes: Fully D-shaped premaxillary teeth, omparable in size & shape to the (nearly contemporaneous) Tetori Group tyrannosauroid tooth. Nasals fused even in juveniles. Robust, pneumatic lacrimal, and pneumatic jugal. Reduced prefrontal. Small but well-defined saggital crest, and well-developed transverse nuchal crest. Pneumatic quadrate. Highly pneumaticized basicranium, with deep basisphenoid recess. Distal end of scapula greatly expanded relative to shaft. Three fingered manus, with a very slender metacarpal III. Extremely large pubic boot. Non-arctometatarsalian pes.
Xu, Norell, Kuang, Wang, Zhao & Jia, 2004
Time
Cretaceous Early
Classification
Saurischia Theropoda Tyrannosauria Tyrannosauridae
Diet
Carnivore
Fossilsite
Grey Shale of the Yixian Formation, Liaoning, Lujiatun, Beipiao, China
Length
1.5 meter
Info
Genus - Typespecies - Skull
Holotype is a semi-articulated skeleton including an almost complete skull. A nearly complete skull with associated presacral vertebrae and a partial skull are also referred to this taxon, as is yet another specimen (IVPP V11579) The skulls resembling that of juvenile tyrannosauroids, the skeleton is somewhat similar to those of basal coelurosaurians
Small and gracile tyrannosaurid with relatively long arms and three-fingered hands. Chinese mythology: Dilong or Ti-Lung are earth dragons whose task it is to preside over rivers and streams. According to some accounts, they are the female counterpart of the Shenlong and they fly only in order to mate. Dilong derives from Mandarin words meaning \\\\\\\"emperor\\\\\\\" and \\\\\\\"dragon.\\\\\\\" Paradoxus refers to the unusual feathers found on one of the 5-foot-long (1.5-meter-long) specimen that was discovered in overlaying layers of the Lujiatun beds.
D.paradoxus is the earliest known unquestionable tyrannosauroid found so far (2004). One of the specimens also preserves a filamentous integumentary covering similar to that of other coelurosaurian theropods from western Liaoning. This provides the first direct fossil evidence that tyrannosauroids had protofeathers.Dilong\\\\\\\'s anatomy includes: Fully D-shaped premaxillary teeth, omparable in size & shape to the (nearly contemporaneous) Tetori Group tyrannosauroid tooth. Nasals fused even in juveniles. Robust, pneumatic lacrimal, and pneumatic jugal. Reduced prefrontal. Small but well-defined saggital crest, and well-developed transverse nuchal crest. Pneumatic quadrate. Highly pneumaticized basicranium, with deep basisphenoid recess. Distal end of scapula greatly expanded relative to shaft. Three fingered manus, with a very slender metacarpal III. Extremely large pubic boot. Non-arctometatarsalian pes.