A team of Chinese researchers has uncovered a previously unknown dinosaur assemblage from the Lower Jurassic period in Wuding County, Yunnan Province, marking the discovery of the oldest sauropodomorph ever found in East Asia.
The fossils were unearthed in 2020 in the Wande township and, following five years of restoration and analysis, the team officially named the new species Wudingloong, according to China Daily, a partner of TV BRICS.
The Wudingloong fossil is relatively well-preserved, consisting of cranial bones, cervical and dorsal vertebrae, as well as forelimb bones.
Phylogenetic analysis and its stratigraphic horizon indicate that Wudingloong is both the earliest-diverging and the oldest known sauropodomorph dinosaur in East Asia, dating back approximately 200 million years to the dawn of the Early Jurassic.
In comparison to other known sauropodomorphs from East Asia, Wudingloong stands out for its smaller size, smoother tooth enamel, more slender scapula, higher radius-to-humerus length ratio, and elongated fingers – characteristics that suggest it was likely bipedal.
African Times published this article in partnership with International Media Network TV BRICS
