Describer

Xu, Zhang, Sereno, Zhao, Kuang, Han & Tan, 2002

Time

Cretaceous Late

Classification

Saurischia Theropoda Tetanurae Coelurosauria Therizinosauroidea

Diet

Carnivore

Fossilsite

Iren Dabasu Formation, Nei Mongol, China

Info

Genus - Typespecies

Xu X., Zhang X.-H., Sereno, P., Zhao, X-J., Kuang, Xu.-W., Han, J.& Tan, L. (2002) A new therizionosauroid (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous Iren Dabau Formation of Nei Mongol. Vertebrate Palasiatica vol.40 No.3 pp.228-240

Abstract

A partial skelton is described from the Upper Cretaceous Iren Dabasu Formation of Nei Mongol that represents a new therizinosauroid theropod, Erliansaurus bellamanus gen. et sp. nov. Distinctive characteristics of the new species include enlarged nutritional foramen on anterior caudals, prominent crest-like posterior trochanter on the humerus bordered medially by an oval depression, rugose swelling located dorsal to the ischiadic peduncle on the lateral surface of the ilium, posterior margin significantly higher than anterior margin on the fibular proximal end, and distally located hypertrophied anterior trochanter on the fibula.

Preliminary analysis suggests that E. bellamanus represents an intermediate taxon between the primitive therizinosauroids and the advanced therizinosauroidae. The discovery of E. bellamanus provides important information regarding the diversity within Therizinosauroidea.

Ethymology

\\\"Erlian [small town in China]\\\"+ Greek saurus = \\\"lizard\\\".

Holotype

LH V 0002, partial skeleton preserving many postcranial elements, including five vertebrae (two cervicals on cranial dorsal and two proximal caudals), left forelimb lacking carpus, (humerus, ulna, radius, manus), partial right iliuum, frgaments of ischium, fragments of pubis, right femur, tibiae, right fibula, some aprtial metatarsals, most of manus and hindlimb in articulation, other isolated elements.

Diagnosis of genus (as for the type species)

Differs from all other known therizinosauroids in having enlarged nutritional foramen on cranial caudal vertebrae; prominent crestlike caudal trochanter on humerus, bordered medially by oval impression; rugose swelling dorsal to ischiadic peduncle on lateral surface of ilium; caudal margin significantly higher than cranial margin on fibular proximal end; distally located hypertrophied cranial trochanter of fibula. (Xu, Zhanf, Sereno, Zhao, Juang, Han and Tan, 2002)