Paleontologists have made an exciting discovery: a new dinosaur called Huashanosaurus qini. This ancient beast lived in what is now southern China during the Jurassic period, roughly 200 to 162 million years ago. It stretched about 39 feet long, a towering presence in its time.
Lead researcher Dr. Jinyou Mo from the Natural History Museum of Guangxi noted that while many Jurassic dinosaurs have been found in regions like Yunnan and Sichuan, Guangxi has lagged behind. “The Jurassic record here is not as rich as that of the Cretaceous,” he said.
Two specimens of Huashanosaurus qini, including a partial skeleton, were unearthed in Huqiu Quarry, a notable site in the Wangmen Formation. Alongside these fossils, various fish scales, teeth, and other dinosaur remains were also found, hinting at a diverse ecosystem.
The dating of the Wangmen Formation itself remains a topic of discussion among experts. Initially thought to be early Early Jurassic, it was later re-evaluated to possibly span the Early to Middle Jurassic period, based on new fossil evidence.
Huashanosaurus qini is part of the Eusauropoda group, which includes advanced sauropods. Surprisingly, it is the second eusauropod discovered in Guangxi; the first was Jingia dongxingensis, found in a later formation. This new discovery enriches our understanding of how these dinosaurs evolved and spread.
Experts agree that the major rise of eusauropods happened during the transition from the Early to Middle Jurassic. This context makes the discovery of Huashanosaurus qini particularly significant, reinforcing the idea that the Wangmen Formation dates back to this pivotal period in dinosaur evolution.
Researchers published their findings in Acta Geologica Sinica, shedding light on how these creatures fit into the grand narrative of prehistoric life. The more we learn, the clearer the picture of our planet’s history becomes.
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China,Dinosaur,Eusauropoda,Fossil,Guangxi,Huashanosaurus,Huashanosaurus qini,Jurassic,Wangmen Formation
