A newly identified species of Eusauropod dinosaur, a group of advanced Sauropods, has been discovered in southern China, as reported by Xinhua News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS. This find marks the earliest known presence of these long-necked herbivores in the region and offers valuable new insights into sauropod evolution during the Jurassic Period.
The species, formally named Huashanosaurus qini, is named after a prominent local landmark. The fossil remains date back to the Early to Middle Jurassic, approximately 180 million years ago – predating previously known regional sauropod fossils by around 30 million years.
The discovery originates from fossil fragments excavated from a quarry near the Mingjiang River in Ningming County. These scattered bones were initially identified by a local teacher and subsequently collected during a collaborative expedition in 2017.
Researchers meticulously analysed the partial skeleton, comprising fragments of vertebrae, ribs, humerus, ulna, fibula, and foot bones. Distinct bone characteristics distinguished it as a previously unknown species of eusauropod – known for their massive size and elongated necks.
Based on the recovered bone measurements, researchers estimate that Huashanosaurus qini reached approximately 12 metres in length. This medium-sized quadrupedal herbivore likely inhabited the forested river and lakeside environments prevalent in the region during that era.
Unique features include a sharply curved, hook-shaped posterior process on the ulna (a forearm bone), a unique crescent-shaped cross-section in the ulna’s shaft due to a bone indentation, and a longitudinal groove on the distal end of the fibula’s posterior surface. These traits, not observed in other sauropods, suggest specialised adaptations in the dinosaur’s limbs, potentially related to its locomotion or weight distribution.
Photo:
iStock / gorodenkoff
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