[D] Yutyrannus huali [Su] [sG] [T]
Describer
Xu, Wang, Zhang, Ma, Sullivan, Hu, Cheng & Wang 2012
Time
Cretaceous Early
Classification
Saurischia Theropoda Tetanurae Coelurosauria Therizinosauroidea
Diet
Carnivore
Fossilsite
Yixian Formation, Batuyingzi, Beipiao, Liaoning Province, China
Info
Etymology. The generic name is derived from ‘yu’ (Mandarin for ‘feathers’)1‘tyrannus’ (Latin for ‘king’ or ‘tyrant’). The specific name huali’ means ‘beautiful’ in Mandarin, referring to the beauty of the plumage of this animal.
Holotype
ZCDM (Zhucheng Dinosaur Museum, Shandong) V5000, a semi-articulated, nearly complete skeleton. A cast of the specimen is housed at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology as IVPP FV1960.
Paratypes
ZCDM V5001, a nearly complete, articulated skeleton; and ELDM (Erlianhaote Dinosaur Museum, Inner Mongolia) V1001, an articulated skeletonmissing the tail.Casts of these specimens are housed at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology as IVPP FV1961 and IVPP FV1962, respectively.
Horizon and locality
Batuyingzi, Beipiao, Liaoning Province, China; Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation.
Diagnosis
A gigantic tyrannosauroid distinguishable from other tyrannosauroids by the unique presence of a rugose, highly fenestrated midline crest formed by the premaxillae and nasals, an anteroventrally projecting orbital process in the area of the junction between the frontal and jugal processes of the postorbital, a large concavity on the lateral surface of the main body of the postorbital, and an external mandibular fenestra located mostly within the surangular. Also differs from Sinotyrannus in that the morphologically lateral surface of the maxillary process of the premaxilla faces dorsally, the maxilla lacks an anterior ramus, the maxillary fenestra is posteriorly positioned, the antorbital fossa has a posteroventrally sloping ventral margin, and the ilium has a straight dorsal margin and a postacetabular process whose ventral margin bears a lobe-like flange.