Sinosaurus (meaning “Chinese lizard”) was a tetanuran theropod dinosaur which lived during the Early Jurassic Period. It was a bipedal carnivore approximately 5.6 metres (18 feet) in length. Fossils of the animal were found at the Lufeng Formation, in the Yunnan Province of China.

Description

According to Carrano et al. (2012) D. sinensis, now considered to be at least congeneric with Sinosaurus triassicus, can be distinguished based on the fact that a vertical groove is present on the lateral premaxilla adjacent to contact with the maxilla. Sinosaurus is the only “dilophosaurid” known from a complete braincase. Cryolophosaurus, Dilophosaurus, Zupaysaurus and Coelophysis kayentakatae are all known from partial braincases. Two partial braincases were found before 2012, and are probably mostly complete, except that large sections are obscured by sediments. In 2011, an exceptionally well-preserved braincase was found, only missing the frontal bones and orbitosphenoid.

Discovery and naming

KMV 8701 was originally discovered in 1987. The specimen was identified as a new species, and was named Dilophosaurus sinensis. Then in 1994, during a field expedition, a more complete specimen was found, and was assigned to the same species. In 2003, Dong Zhiming studied the material of Sinosaurus, finding it to be quite similar to Dilophosaurus sinensis. As Sinosaurus was named earlier, by Young in 1948, “Dilophosaurus” sinensis became its junior synonym. The composite term Sinosaurus comes from Sinae, the Latin word for the Chinese, and the Greek word sauros (σαυρος) meaning “lizard”; thus “Chinese lizard”. The specific name, triassicus, refers to the Triassic, the period that the fossils were originally thought to date from. Sinosaurus was described and named by Chung Chien Young, who is known as the ‘Father of Chinese Vertebrate Paleontology’, in 1948.

Over the years, paleontologists referred additional specimens to D. sinensis which are now assigned to Sinosaurus. Dong (2003) referred specimen LDM-LCA10 which consists of a skull and an incomplete skeleton. In 2012, Xing referred two individuals, ZLJ0003 which consists of a partial skull and an incomplete skeleton, and ZLJT01 which is a juvenile individual that consists of a premaxillary fragment, an incomplete maxilla, a maxillary fragment, a lacrimal, both frontals, both parietals, an incomplete braincase, an incomplete dentary, an atlantal intercentrum, two dorsal rib fragments, and a partial proximal caudal neural arch, to Sinosaurus.

The holotype, IVPP V34, was found in the Lower Lufeng Formation, and consists of two maxillary (upper jaw) fragments, four maxillary teeth, and a lower jaw fragment with three teeth. The teeth are laterally compressed, and feature fine serrations both at their anterior and posterior edges. The teeth are also variable in size and are curved backwards. This material is too fragmentary to determine the length and weight of this dinosaur. Over the years, other fossils were referred to Sinosaurus, some of which were material that was shown to belong to two sauropodomorphs. The fossils include a postcrania, with a sacrum with three preserved sacral vertebrae. The material assigned to “Sinosaurus postcrania” includes a mix of plateosaurid and melanorosaurid elements. All the material from the Red Beds block has now been reassigned to Jingshanosaurus.

Shaojin Hu (1993) assigned specimen KMV 8701 to Dilophosaurus sinensis. In 2013, a study by Currie et al., confirmed that D. sinensis was the same animal as Sinosaurus triassicus On the other hand, Wang et al. (2017) stated that it needs to be further investigated whether D. sinensis is indeed a junior synonym of S. triassicus, and noted that the two species are different at least in the anatomy of the premaxilla. The authors tentatively assigned D. sinensis to the genus Sinosaurus, but retained it as a species distinct from Sinosaurus triassicus. Specimen KMV 8701 consists of a skull (measuring 525 mm), and is nearly complete. The specimen KMV 8701 is about 5.6 m (18 ft) long, meaning Sinosaurus was about that length. KMV 8701 has been assigned now to Sinosaurus, but the specimen still lacks sufficient description and preparation. In 2012, a new specimen of Sinosaurus was described, and was found to represent a new species.

Sinopeltosaurus is a dubious genus of extinct scelidosaurid ornithischian dinosaur described by Roman Ulansky. The type and only species is S. minimus of the lower Jurassic Lufeng Formation of Yunnan China, based on an articulated set of ankle bones. In 2016, Peter Malcolm Galton and Kenneth Carpenter identified it as a nomen dubium, and listed it as Ornithischia indet., possible Thyreophora indet. Ulansky variously referred to it as Sinopeltosaurus minimus or Sinopelta minima; Galton and Carpenter, as the first revisers under ICZN, made the former official.

Shidaisaurus is a genus of metriacanthosaurid dinosaur. Its fossil was found in early Middle Jurassic-age rocks of the Upper Lufeng Formation in Yunnan, China. It is known from a partial skeleton, holotype DML-LCA 9701-IV, found at the bottom of an assemblage of nine dinosaur individuals, lacking most of the tail vertebrae, ribs, pectoral girdle, and limb bones. Shidaisaurus was described in 2009 by Wu and colleagues. The type species is S. jinae. Generic name and specific name in combination refer to the Jin-Shidai (“Golden Age”) Company that exploits the Jurassic World Park near the site. This theropod was about 6 metres (20 ft) long and it weighed around 700 kilograms (1,500 lb).

Discovery and Location:
Shidaisaurus is a genus of early sauropodomorph dinosaur discovered in Yunnan Province, southwestern China. It was found in the Lower Jurassic Lufeng Formation, which dates back approximately 200-190 million years ago.

Taxonomy:
Shidaisaurus belongs to the group of basal sauropodomorphs, which are early members of the sauropodomorph lineage that includes giant sauropods like Diplodocus and Brachiosaurus.

Description:
The exact size and appearance of Shidaisaurus are inferred based on related dinosaurs. As a basal sauropodomorph, it likely had a small body compared to later sauropods, bipedal stance, and herbivorous diet. Its skeletal structure would have featured adaptations for terrestrial locomotion, typical of early dinosaurs.

Paleoenvironment:
During the Early Jurassic, Yunnan Province was characterized by a warm and humid climate with diverse flora and fauna. Shidaisaurus inhabited this region alongside other dinosaurs and early mammals, contributing to the ecosystem dynamics of the time.

Significance:
Shidaisaurus is significant in understanding the early evolution of sauropodomorph dinosaurs, shedding light on their distribution and diversity during the Jurassic period in Asia. Its discovery in Yunnan adds to the growing knowledge of dinosaurian fauna in southern China.

Panguraptor (“Pangu [a Chinese god] plunderer”) is a genus of coelophysid theropod dinosaur known from fossils discovered in Lower Jurassic rocks of southern China. The type and only known species is Panguraptor lufengensis. The generic name refers to the deity Pangu but also to the supercontinent Pangaea for which in a geological context the same characters are used: 盘古. Raptor means “seizer”, “robber” in Latin. The specific name is a reference to the Lufeng Formation.The holotype specimen was recovered on 12 October 2007 from the Lufeng Formation of Yunnan, which is noted for sauropodomorph fossils. It was described in 2014 by You Hai-Lu and colleagues.

Description

The holotype of Panguraptor, LFGT-0103, is the partial articulated skeleton of a subadult individual, including the skull, lower jaws, presacral vertebrae, first sacral vertebra, parts of the pectoral girdle and pelvic girdle, a left femur and most of the right limb. This specimen is likely a sub-adult due to its small size (approximately 2 meters long in life), large orbit, and unfused scapulocoracoids and astragalocalcaneum. However, it may have been close to adulthood due to having other bones which have fused.

The rather short skull is almost complete, although the premaxilla and rostral edge of the maxilla are missing and the nasals are partially obscured. The orbit is quite large but the antorbital fenestra is quite small. The exposed portions of the nasal are wide and smooth and do not show any sign of a sagittal crest present in some other basal theropods. The jugal is positioned similarly to that of C. rhodesiensis, although the quadratojugal is positioned more akin to that of Coelophysis (“Megapnosaurus”) kayentakatae. The rostral end of the lower jaw is missing. Teeth are preserved in the dentary and maxilla, and are slightly recurved yet unserrated.

The centra of the cervical vertebrae gradually increase in length from the third to seventh cervical, then decrease once more to the tenth (last) cervical. The dorsal vertebrae are more compressed than those of Coelophysis bauri and C. rhodesiensis, and their neural spines are longer than they are high and so close to each other that they form a continuous wall along the dorsal vertebral column.

The scapula is long, with a scapular blade with a straight caudal edge and concave cranial edge. The hand has four digits, with metacarpals I and II being the widest and metatarsals II and III being the longest. The first digit also has a flattened and recurved claw, the largest found in the holotype.

The right illium, though incomplete, has a stout pubic peduncle a prominent supracetabular crest. Distal portions of both ischia are preserved, and are straight with broad ends.

The femur has a large and offset head and a longitudinal bulge on the caudolateral surface of the shaft. The tibia and fibula are straight while the astragalus and calcaneum are unfused. Only one tarsal is exposed (likely tarsal IV) along with right metatarsals III, IV, and V and a few pedal digits. Metatarsal III is very long while IV and V taper distally.

Panguraptor can be distinguished from other coelophysids by the following traits:

• A diagonal ridge on the lateral surface of the maxilla, within the antorbital fossa.
• An elliptical fenestra (also known in Zupaysaurus) caudodorsal to the above-mentioned ridge.
• a distal tarsal IV with a hooked craniomedial corner.

Classification

You et. al. performed a phylogenetic analysis and found Panguraptor to be a coelophysid coelophysoid, in a clade with Coelophysis bauri, Coelophysis rhodesiensis,and Camposaurus but not “Megapnosaurus” kayentakatae. Panguraptor was placed in this clade due to having a very acute angle between the horizontal and ascending processes of the maxilla, a blind pocket within the antorbital fossa, a short lateral lamina of the lacrimal, and the ascending process of the jugal making an angle less than 75 degrees with its longitudinal axis. Per this analysis, Panguraptor would be the first coelophysoid known from Asia. It is also the second definite theropod genus known from the Lufeng Formation, after Sinosaurus. Other small coelophysoid specimens such as FMNH CUP 2089 (some forelimb bones) and FMNH CUP 2090 (some hindlimb bones) recovered from the Lufeng formation may belong to this species, although they have been provisionally referred to “Megapnosaurus” kayetakatae until further analysis.

Discovery and Species

Discovery

• The holotype specimen was recovered on October 12, 2007, from the Lufeng Formation of Yunnan, noted for its sauropodomorph fossils.
• It was described in 2014 by You Hai-Lu and colleagues.

Holotype

• The holotype, LFGT-0103, is the partial articulated skeleton of a subadult individual, including the skull, lower jaws, presacral vertebrae, first sacral vertebra, parts of the pectoral girdle and pelvic girdle, a left femur, and most of the right limb.
• The specimen is likely a sub-adult due to its small size (approximately 2 meters long in life), large orbit, and unfused scapulocoracoids and astragalocalcaneum. However, it may have been close to adulthood due to other bones being fused.

Description

Skull

• The skull is almost complete but missing the premaxilla and rostral edge of the maxilla, and the nasals are partially obscured.
• The orbit is large, and the antorbital fenestra is small. The exposed portions of the nasal are wide and smooth without a sagittal crest.
• The jugal is positioned similarly to that of Coelophysis rhodesiensis, though the quadratojugal is positioned more like that of Coelophysis (“Megapnosaurus”) kayentakatae.
• Teeth are preserved in the dentary and maxilla, and are slightly recurved and unserrated.

Vertebrae

• The cervical vertebrae gradually increase in length from the third to the seventh cervical, then decrease to the tenth (last) cervical.
• The dorsal vertebrae are compressed compared to Coelophysis bauri and C. rhodesiensis, with neural spines longer than they are high and forming a continuous wall along the dorsal vertebral column.

Limbs and Girdles

• The scapula is long, with a straight caudal edge and concave cranial edge.
• The hand has four digits, with metacarpals I and II being the widest and metatarsals II and III the longest. The first digit has a flattened and recurved claw, the largest in the holotype.
• The right ilium, though incomplete, has a stout pubic peduncle and a prominent supracetabular crest. Distal portions of both ischia are straight with broad ends.
• The femur has a large, offset head and a longitudinal bulge on the caudolateral surface of the shaft. The tibia and fibula are straight, while the astragalus and calcaneum are unfused. Only one tarsal is exposed, likely tarsal IV, along with right metatarsals III, IV, and V, and a few pedal digits. Metatarsal III is very long, while IV and V taper distally.

Distinguishing Traits

• A diagonal ridge on the lateral surface of the maxilla within the antorbital fossa.
• An elliptical fenestra caudodorsal to the ridge.
• A distal tarsal IV with a hooked craniomedial corner.

Classification

• You et al. performed a phylogenetic analysis and found Panguraptor to be a coelophysid coelophysoid, in a clade with Coelophysis bauri, Coelophysis rhodesiensis, and Camposaurus but not “Megapnosaurus” kayentakatae.
• Panguraptor was placed in this clade due to having a very acute angle between the horizontal and ascending processes of the maxilla, a blind pocket within the antorbital fossa, a short lateral lamina of the lacrimal, and the ascending process of the jugal making an angle less than 75 degrees with its longitudinal axis.
• This makes Panguraptor the first coelophysoid known from Asia and the second definite theropod genus known from the Lufeng Formation, after Sinosaurus.
• Other small coelophysoid specimens from the Lufeng Formation may belong to this species, although they have been provisionally referred to “Megapnosaurus” kayentakatae until further analysis.

Lufengosaurus (Chinese: 祿豐龍 or 禄丰龙, meaning “Lufeng Lizard”) was a prosauropod dinosaur that lived during the Early and Middle Jurassic period in what is now southwestern China. Known for being the first complete dinosaur skeleton mounted in China, Lufengosaurus was also commemorated on a postage stamp in 1958.

1. Discovery and Species

Discovery

• In the late 1930s, geologist Bien Meinian began uncovering fossils at Shawan near Lufeng in Yunnan province.
• In 1938, paleontologist Yang Zhongjian (C.C. Young in the West) joined the excavation.
• In 1941, Yang named the remains of a prosauropod Lufengosaurus huenei, with the generic name referring to Lufeng and the specific name honoring his tutor, Friedrich von Huene.

Holotype

• The holotype, IVPP V15, is a partial skeleton found in the Lower Lufeng Formation, which dates to the Lower Jurassic (Hettangian–Sinemurian).

Second Species

• Yang named a second species, Lufengosaurus magnus, in 1940/1941 and fully described it in 1947. This species was significantly larger than L. huenei but is often considered a junior synonym of L. huenei.

Significance

• An exemplar of Lufengosaurus was the first complete dinosaur skeleton mounted in China in 1958, celebrated with an 8-yuan postage stamp.

Other Prosauropods

• Yang named another prosauropod, Gyposaurus sinensis, in 1940. This species was considered identical to Lufengosaurus by Peter Galton in 1976 but is generally doubted today.

Further Classification

• Michael Cooper suggested in 1981 that Lufengosaurus and Yunnanosaurus were species of the South African genus Massospondylus. However, a reanalysis in 2005 established Lufengosaurus as a distinct genus.

Undescribed Species

• In 1985, Zhao Xijin named another species, Lufengosaurus changduensis, based on a specimen found in Tibet, which remains an undescribed nomen nudum.

  

2. Description

Size

• Lufengosaurus is often described as a small prosauropod, about 6 meters (20 ft) long. Including “L. magnus” specimens, it could reach 9 meters (30 ft) in length and weigh 1.7 metric tons (1.9 short tons).

Physical Traits

• It had a long neck, short forelimbs, and was inferred to be bipedal. The full osteology was published by Yang in 1941.

  

Skull

Features

• The skull was deep and broad, with distinctive bony bumps behind its large nostrils and on its cheeks.
• A bony ridge on the side of the upper jaw might have anchored soft tissue, suggesting larger cheeks compared to other sauropodomorphs.
• It had closely spaced, serrated teeth suited for a diet of leaves.

Key Points about Lufengosaurus

Discovery:

• Lufengosaurus was discovered in the Lufeng Basin, a renowned fossil site in Yunnan Province.
• The genus was first described in 1941 by Chinese paleontologist Yang Zhongjian (also known as C.C. Young).

Classification:

• Lufengosaurus belongs to the order Saurischia, suborder Sauropodomorpha.
• It is classified within the family Massospondylidae, a group of early sauropodomorph dinosaurs.

Physical Characteristics:

• Lufengosaurus was a relatively small to medium-sized dinosaur, measuring about 6 to 9 meters (20 to 30 feet) in length.
• It had a long neck and tail, a small head, and a bipedal stance, though it could likely walk on all fours as well.
• The dinosaur had strong hind limbs and shorter forelimbs with grasping hands, suggesting it may have been able to manipulate objects or food.

Diet and Behavior:

• Lufengosaurus was primarily herbivorous, feeding on plants.
• Its teeth were adapted for a plant-based diet, and its long neck allowed it to reach vegetation at various heights.

Significance:

• The discovery of Lufengosaurus has provided significant insights into the early evolution of sauropodomorph dinosaurs.
• It is one of the best-preserved early sauropodomorphs and has contributed to our understanding of the transition from small, bipedal ancestors to the giant, quadrupedal sauropods of later periods.

Lufeng Basin Fossil Site

The Lufeng Basin in Yunnan Province is one of the most important fossil sites in China, known for its rich deposits of early Jurassic dinosaur fossils.

Geological Formation:

• The Lufeng Formation, where Lufengosaurus was discovered, dates to the Early Jurassic period, approximately 190 to 200 million years ago.
• The sedimentary rocks in this formation have preserved a wide variety of fossils, including those of dinosaurs, amphibians, reptiles, and early mammals.

Other Significant Finds:

• In addition to Lufengosaurus, the Lufeng Basin has yielded fossils of other dinosaur genera, such as Yunnanosaurus and Sinosaurus.
• The basin has also provided important fossils of early mammals, offering insights into the evolution of mammals during the Mesozoic era.

Paleontological Research:

• The Lufeng Basin has been the focus of extensive paleontological research, with numerous expeditions and studies conducted by Chinese and international scientists.
• Fossils from this region have contributed to a better understanding of early dinosaur evolution and the biodiversity of the Jurassic period.

Visiting the Lufeng Basin

For those interested in paleontology and natural history, the Lufeng Basin and its associated museums offer a fascinating glimpse into the ancient past. The Yunnan Provincial Museum in Kunming, for example, displays many fossils from the Lufeng Basin, including specimens of Lufengosaurus, providing an educational experience about the region’s rich paleontological heritage.

Jingshanosaurus (meaning “Jingshan lizard”) is a genus of sauropodomorph dinosaurs from the early Jurassic period. Jingshanosaurus is a genus of prosauropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Jurassic period. It is named after the Jingshan locality in Yunnan Province, China, where its fossils were discovered.

History of discovery

Its fossils, a nearly complete skeleton including the skull, were found near the town of Jingshan (“Golden Hill”), Lufeng County, Yunnan Province, China, from which the name derives. First described in 1995, the type species is J. xinwaensis, formalized by Zhang and Yang. Fossil remains of Jingshanosaurus had been exhibited in museums several years prior to the formal naming.

Classification

Jingshanosaurus may have been most closely related to Yunnanosaurus, and has, at times, been included in the Yunnanosauridae. In fact, Dong Zhiming considered Jingshanosaurus possibly a large specimen of Yunnanosaurus. If true, this would make Jingshanosaurus a junior synonym of Yunnanosaurus.

Here are some key points about Jingshanosaurus and its significance:

Key Points about Jingshanosaurus

1. Discovery:
   • Jingshanosaurus fossils were first discovered in the Lower Jurassic rock formations of Yunnan Province.
   • The genus was named and described by Chinese paleontologist Zhang Yihong in 1992.
2. Physical Characteristics:
   • Jingshanosaurus is a prosauropod, a type of early herbivorous dinosaur that is considered to be a precursor to the larger sauropods.
   • It had a long neck and tail, with a relatively small head, and walked on both two and four legs.
   • It is estimated to have been around 5 meters (16 feet) in length.
3. Significance:
   • The discovery of Jingshanosaurus provided valuable insights into the evolution of sauropod dinosaurs.
   • Its well-preserved fossils have contributed to the understanding of dinosaur fauna in the Early Jurassic period in Asia.
   • 
4. Habitat:
   • During the Early Jurassic, Yunnan was part of a lush, forested environment with a warm climate, providing an ideal habitat for herbivorous dinosaurs like Jingshanosaurus.

Fossil Sites in Yunnan

Yunnan is known for its rich fossil sites, particularly in the Lufeng Basin, which has yielded numerous important dinosaur fossils, including those of Jingshanosaurus. These sites have helped paleontologists piece together the history of early dinosaurs in Asia.

Visiting Fossil Sites in Yunnan

If you’re interested in paleontology and want to see where Jingshanosaurus and other dinosaurs were discovered, consider visiting the following:

1. Lufeng Dinosaur Fossil Site:
   • Located in Lufeng County, this site has a museum that displays many dinosaur fossils, including those from the Early Jurassic period.
2. Chuxiong Dinosaur Museum:
   • This museum, located in Chuxiong City, showcases a variety of dinosaur fossils found in Yunnan, providing educational exhibits on the region’s prehistoric life.
3. Yunnan Provincial Museum:
   • Located in Kunming, the provincial capital, this museum also features exhibits on Yunnan’s paleontological discoveries.

Yunnan Province’s contribution to paleontology, particularly with discoveries like Jingshanosaurus, highlights its importance in the study of dinosaur evolution and prehistoric life.

Chuxiongosaurus is a genus of basal sauropodomorph dinosaur which lived during the Early Jurassic Period. Fossils of this genus have been found in the Lower Lufeng Formation, Yunnan Province, southern China. Identified from the holotype CMY LT9401 a nearly complete skull (including a lower jaw) with some similarities to Thecodontosaurus, it was described as the “first basal sauropod dinosaur from the Early Jurassic of China,” more basal than Anchisaurus. It was named by Lü Junchang, Yoshitsugu Kobayashi, Li Tianguang and Zhong Shimin in 2010, and the type species is Chuxiongosaurus lufengensis.

Chuanjiesaurus is a genus of sauropod dinosaurs from the middle Jurassic Period. They lived in what is now China. The type species, Chuanjiesaurus anaensis, was first described by Fang, Pang, Lü, Zhang, Pan, Wang, Li and Cheng in 2000. Fossils of the species were found in the village of Chuanjie, Lufeng County, Yunnan Province, (in Chuanjie Formation deposits) and are named after the location where the fossils were discovered.

Chuanjiesaurus is a genus of sauropod dinosaurs from the middle Jurassic Period. They lived in what is now China. The type species, Chuanjiesaurus anaensis, was first described by Fang, Pang, Lü, Zhang, Pan, Wang, Li and Cheng in 2000. Fossils of the species were found in the village of Chuanjie, Lufeng County, Yunnan Province, (in Chuanjie Formation deposits) and are named after the location where the fossils were discovered. Holtz gave a length of 25 meters (82 ft).

Discovery and Naming

• Discovery: Fossils of Chuanjiesaurus were discovered in Yunnan Province, specifically in the Lower Jurassic rock formations.
• Naming: The genus Chuanjiesaurus was named after Chuanjie Township in Yunnan, where the fossils were found.

Physical Characteristics

• Classification: Chuanjiesaurus is classified as a genus of sauropod dinosaur, specifically belonging to the family Mamenchisauridae.
• Size: It was a medium-sized sauropod, estimated to have reached lengths of around 15 meters (49 feet).

Habitat and Paleoenvironment

• Habitat: During the Early Jurassic period, Yunnan Province had a warm and humid climate, with dense forests and abundant vegetation. This provided an ideal habitat for herbivorous dinosaurs like Chuanjiesaurus.
• Fossil Sites: Fossils of Chuanjiesaurus have been found in various locations within Yunnan, contributing to our understanding of the dinosaur fauna in this region during that time.

Significance

• Contribution to Paleontology: Chuanjiesaurus fossils have provided valuable insights into the diversity and evolution of sauropod dinosaurs in Asia during the Early Jurassic period.
• Research and Study: Study of Chuanjiesaurus helps paleontologists understand the anatomical features and adaptations of sauropod dinosaurs, as well as their ecological roles in ancient ecosystems.

Fossil Sites in Yunnan

• Yunnan Province is known for several fossil sites, including those where Chuanjiesaurus fossils have been unearthed. These sites are important for studying the paleobiology and evolutionary history of dinosaurs in Asia.

Chuanjiesaurus remains an important genus for paleontological research, offering a window into the ancient world of sauropod dinosaurs in Yunnan Province and their place in the global ecosystem during the Early Jurassic.

Bienosaurus (meaning “Bien’s lizard”) is a genus of thyreophoran dinosaur from the Lower Jurassic (probably Sinemurian) Lower Lufeng Formation in Yunnan Province in China. Bienosaurus is a genus of thyreophoran dinosaur that may have lived in the Lower Jurassic Lufeng Formation of Yunnan Province, China. The name means “Bien’s lizard”. In 1938, Bian Meinian discovered a partial dinosaur skull in the area, and in 2001, Dong Zhiming named and described it as Bienosaurus lufengensis, honoring Bian with the generic name and the Lufeng Formation with the specific name. However, some authors have reassessed the dinosaur’s classification due to the fragmentary nature of the remains and the lack of autapomorphies. For example, one article notes that the wide distribution of cortical remodeling of the skull roof, a synapomorphy of thyreophorans, makes it difficult to identify as an autapomorphy for Bienosaurus.

Discovery and species

In 1938, Bian Meinian, known in the West as Mei Nien Bien, discovered a fragmentary dinosaur skull. In 2001, Dong Zhiming named and described the specimen as the type species Bienosaurus lufengensis. The generic name honours Bian. The specific name refers to the Lufeng formation.

Bienosaurus is based on holotype IVPP V15311 (in 2001 incorrectly given the inventory number IVPP V 9612). It consists of a partial right lower jaw with teeth and several cranial fragments.

Phylogeny

Dong in 2001 placed Bienosaurus in the Scelidosauridae, considering these to be part of the Ankylosauria. Later publications suggested a general position basal in the Thyreophora. In 2019 a study confirmed this, concluding Bienosaurus was a nomen dubium, possibly identical to Tatisaurusfrom the same formation.

Discovery and Naming

• Discovery: Bienosaurus fossils were first discovered in Yunnan Province, China, specifically in the Lower Jurassic rock formations.
• Naming: The genus name “Bienosaurus” means “Bie’s lizard,” named after Bie Zuyao, a renowned Chinese paleontologist who made significant contributions to the study of Chinese dinosaurs.

Physical Characteristics

• Classification: Bienosaurus is classified as a prosauropod dinosaur, a group of herbivorous dinosaurs that were early relatives of the giant sauropods.
• Size: It was a medium-sized dinosaur, with an estimated length of around 5-6 meters (16-20 feet).

Habitat and Paleoenvironment

• Habitat: During the Early Jurassic period, Yunnan Province had a warm and humid climate, characterized by lush vegetation. This provided a suitable habitat for herbivorous dinosaurs like Bienosaurus.
• Fossil Sites: Fossils of Bienosaurus have been found in various locations within Yunnan, contributing to our understanding of the dinosaur fauna in this region during that time.

Significance

• Contribution to Paleontology: Bienosaurus fossils have provided important insights into the diversity and evolutionary relationships of early sauropodomorph dinosaurs in Asia during the Early Jurassic.
• Research and Study: Study of Bienosaurus helps paleontologists understand the anatomical features, locomotion, and feeding habits of early herbivorous dinosaurs.

Fossil Sites in Yunnan

• Yunnan Province is known for its rich fossil sites, including those where Bienosaurus fossils have been discovered. These sites are critical for studying the paleobiology and evolutionary history of dinosaurs in Asia.

Bienosaurus represents an integral part of Yunnan’s paleontological heritage, offering valuable clues about ancient ecosystems and the early evolution of dinosaurs in this region.

Why is Lufeng World Dinosaur Museum So Special

Lufeng is the site of numerous Jurassic dinosaur discoveries, first found there in 1938. Most well known is Lufengosaurus, a Jurassic prosauropod. More recently, teeth and a skull of Ramapithecus, a Miocene period primate related to the orangutan, have been found in Lufeng.

The Lufeng Dinosaur Museum includes the hall of ancient living beings where four complete dinosaur skeletons ranging from 2.4 meters to 9 meters in length are on display, say Woo casino Canada experts. In addition, there is a display of photographs and diagrams of dinosaurs from around the world. The museum includes the hall of ancient bronzeware and earthenware and the hall of ancient Pithecanthropus.

Where is Lufeng World Dinorsaur Museum 

Lufeng World Dinosaur Museum is a part of the Lufeng World Dinosaur Valley, and located in Jingshan Town, Lufeng County, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China.

How to Get There

After arriving in Lufeng County, it is very convenient to get to Lufeng World Dinosaur Museum, which only need few minutes to get there. If there are not two many luggages, walking is the best choice to get there.

Introduction of Lufeng World Dinosaur Museum

Lufeng is nicknamed the Home Town to Dinosaurs. Back in 1938, Bian Meinian(卞美年), one of China’s famous geologists, and Yang Zhongjian(杨钟健), one of China’s renowned paleontologists, discovered whole clusters of rare dinosaur fossils as well as other fossils of extinct plants and animals from ancient times. They are named “Lufeng reptiles and dinosaur clusters”. In the same year, the complete skeleton of a dinosaur was unearthed. Ever since then, the Lufeng dinosaur became famous. There are dozens of other dinosaur fossils which were excavated in the following years. It is found that the distribution of dinosaur fossils extended for 10 sq.km (6. 2 sq.miles), with Lufeng being at the center. It is believed that dinosaurs found here are the best vertebrate fossils that are the most primitive, the oldest, with the most varieties and in their most complete form. China’s first assembled dinosaur for study purposes was unearthed in Lufeng, and it has been dated to have more than 180 million years.

There are some kinds of unearthed dinosaur fossils, which are displayed in the Lufeng World Dinosaur Museum. At the end of 2008, the newly constructed Jurassic Park was finished, adding a more scientific and trendy atmosphere to the ancient dusty place.

At the north side of Lufeng County, about 9 km (5.6 miles), away is the site where the fossil, one of China’s most ancient homo sapiens, was discovered. In May 1975, archaeologists found a tooth fossil in a pile of coal deposits.  After that, more than 700 pieces of bone fossils were excavated. They were named Lama Ancient Homo Sapiens by archaeologists and anthropologists, believing that they lived about eight million years ago. In January 1988 the site of the coal deposit, where the first tooth fossil was found, was designated as a national key protection area, and the surrounding area of 20 acres (1.4 hectares) was walled. Within the protected area, an ancient ape statue monument was erected to mark this important archaeological discovery.

Best Time to Go

It is appropriate to visit Lufeng World Dinosaur at any time.

Nearby Attractions

The Grand Courtyard of Wu Family
The Grand Courtyard of Wu Family is a typical Ming and Qing architecture that has been preserved to now. The Grand Courtyard of Wu Family was built in the 16th year of Daoguang in Qing Dynasty. It was expended in the 7th year of Xianfeng in Qing Dynasty and was built along the mountain. It is a “王(Wang)-shape”, with a unique layout. It consists of four patios with 99 houses. It, with a building area of ​​10,000 square meters, is well-connected and is one of the rare ancient residential buildings in Yunnan.

Feilaisi Temple
Feilaisi Temple is located at the hillside. Because of the steep mountain, looking from the bottom of the mountain, the whole temple is like a big bird entwined in the mountain. It seems to be flying and it also seems to have just landed from the sky. Therefore, Feilaisi Temple got its name. Looking down from the temple, the Longchuanjiang River(龙川江) passes through the deep canyon, and the town’s buildings are dotted on both sides of the river.

Heijing Confucius Temple
The Heijing Confucian Temple is located in the Longchuanjiang River Gorge(龙川江峡谷), Lufeng County, Chuxiong Prefecture. The Heijing Confucius Temple was built in the 45th year of Ming Wanli (1617). It was repeatedly destroyed by mudslides in the Qing Dynasty and was repeatedly rebuilt. The Confucius Temple is large in scale. There were 13 scholars (进士), which could show the prosperity of Heijing culture education.

Heijing Ancient Town
With traditional folk residences, archways, and religion architectures, Heijing Ancient Town is well conserved in a traditional style as others do in China. Among them, 27 have been listed as county-level cultural relics protection units, and are known as “the treasure house of historical relics – the living fossil of Ming and Qing Dynasties”. 

Travel Tips

• Do not make a loud noise in the museum and turn the phone into vibration mode;
• Do not touch any exhibits in the museum at will;
• Do not use the flash when taking photos. Because precious items will suffer from the permanent damage under the strong light.

Tour including Lufeng World Dinosaur Museum

1 Day Chuxiong Lufeng World Dinosaur Valley Tour from Kunming

Yu Huixiang – Representative Inheritor of Yi Traditional Medicine Project in Lufeng County, Chuxiong 

楚雄州禄丰县舍资镇彝族医药项目代表性传承人 – 余惠祥

http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-13111-3160.html

Bi Jinrong – Representative Inheritor of Yi Broadsword Dance Project in Lufeng County, Chuxoing 

楚雄州禄丰县高峰乡彝族大刀舞项目代表性传承人 – 毕金荣

http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-13111-3053.html

Lufeng County Travel Guide

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