Describer

Dong, Tang & Zhou, 1982

Time

Jurassic Middle Bathonian Callovian

Classification

Ornithischia Thyreophora Stegosauria Huayangosauridae

Diet

Herbivore

Fossilsite

Xiashaximiao Formation, Sichuan, China

Length

4,6 meter

Info

Genus - Typespecies - Skull

Complete skeleton with skull, complete skull, 5 fragmentary postcrania, adult.

Huayangosaurus taibaii is the best-represented Middle Jurassic (Bathonian-Callovian) stegosaur with several skeletons (length approximately 4,3 m ) and it is characterized by numerous primitive characters. Plesiomorphic characters include redustion in height of the rostral part of jugal compared to that of Tuojiangosaurus (also low in Stegosaurus), loss of the paraquadrate foramen between quadrate and quadrotojugal which is present in Kentrosaurus (also absent in Stegosaurus), the decreased size of the external mandibular fenestra compared to those of Kentrosaurus with a numerous marginal denticles and a central vertical eminence, and elevation of the transverse processes of the dorsal vertebrae up to 60o compared in Dacentrurus.