Sinocoelurus
Encyclopedia
Sinocoelurus is a genus of theropod dinosaur
from the ?Tithonian
-age Upper Jurassic Kyangyan Series
of Sichuan
, China
. It is an obscure tooth
taxon
.
paleontologist Yang Zhongjian
(in older references his name is given as C. C. Young) named this genus from IVP AS V232-234, a group of four isolated partial teeth found near Weiyuan
, Guangyuan
, Sichuan Basin. He described them as "long, slender, moderately curved and compressed; ridged anterior and posterior sides with no trace of serrations; enamel
very thin". He considered the genus to be "coelurosauria
n", which at that time meant a small theropod. The most distinctive characteristic of these teeth was their lack of serration
s.
Because of the small amount of material, Sinocoelurus has attracted little attention since its description, outside of reviews. It is usually considered a dubious
name of either coelurosaurian\coelurid
affinities (if the source predates the acceptance of Coelurosauria as a wastebasket taxon as traditionally used), or uncertain theropod affinities (if published after this). The most recent review classifies it as Tetanurae
incertae sedis
and dubious.
al carnivore
.
variations, the location may be given as Kuangyuan, Szechuan Basin.
The unserrated teeth have led at least one Internet
source to compare the genus to spinosaurids. As this was self-acknowledged unfounded speculation, the originator retracted it.
Dinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
from the ?Tithonian
Tithonian
In the geologic timescale the Tithonian is the latest age of the Late Jurassic epoch or the uppermost stage of the Upper Jurassic series. It spans the time between 150.8 ± 4 Ma and 145.5 ± 4 Ma...
-age Upper Jurassic Kyangyan Series
Kyangyan Series
The Kyangyan Series is a Mesozoic geologic formation. Dinosaur remains diagnostic to the genus level are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.-See also:* List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations...
of Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
, China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. It is an obscure tooth
Tooth
Teeth are small, calcified, whitish structures found in the jaws of many vertebrates that are used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores, also use teeth for hunting or for defensive purposes. The roots of teeth are embedded in the Mandible bone or the Maxillary bone and are...
taxon
Taxon
|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...
.
History
Famous ChineseChinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
paleontologist Yang Zhongjian
Yang Zhongjian
Yang Zhongjian , courtesy name Keqiang , also known as C.C. Young, was one of China's foremost paleontologists. He has been called the 'Father of Chinese vertebrate paleontology'...
(in older references his name is given as C. C. Young) named this genus from IVP AS V232-234, a group of four isolated partial teeth found near Weiyuan
Weiyuan
Weiyuan may refer to following in China:*Weiyuan County, Gansu , of Dingxi, Gansu*Weiyuan County, Sichuan , of Neijiang, SichuanTowns *Weiyuan, Changshun County, in Changshun County, Guizhou...
, Guangyuan
Guangyuan
Guangyuan is a prefecture-level city in Sichuan Province, China. It has an area of 16313.78 square kilometers and a population of 2,484,123 in 2010...
, Sichuan Basin. He described them as "long, slender, moderately curved and compressed; ridged anterior and posterior sides with no trace of serrations; enamel
Tooth enamel
Tooth enamel, along with dentin, cementum, and dental pulp is one of the four major tissues that make up the tooth in vertebrates. It is the hardest and most highly mineralized substance in the human body. Tooth enamel is also found in the dermal denticles of sharks...
very thin". He considered the genus to be "coelurosauria
Coelurosauria
Coelurosauria is the clade containing all theropod dinosaurs more closely related to birds than to carnosaurs. In the past, it was used to refer to all small theropods, although this classification has been abolished...
n", which at that time meant a small theropod. The most distinctive characteristic of these teeth was their lack of serration
Serration
Serration generally refers to a saw-like appearance or a row of sharp or tooth-like projections. A serrated cutting edge has many small points of contact with the material being cut. By having less contact area than a smooth blade or other edge, the applied force at each point of contact is...
s.
Because of the small amount of material, Sinocoelurus has attracted little attention since its description, outside of reviews. It is usually considered a dubious
Nomen dubium
In zoological nomenclature, a nomen dubium is a scientific name that is of unknown or doubtful application...
name of either coelurosaurian\coelurid
Coeluridae
Coeluridae is a historically polyphyletic family of generally small, carnivorous dinosaurs from the late Jurassic Period...
affinities (if the source predates the acceptance of Coelurosauria as a wastebasket taxon as traditionally used), or uncertain theropod affinities (if published after this). The most recent review classifies it as Tetanurae
Tetanurae
Tetanurae, or "stiff tails", is a clade that includes most theropod dinosaurs, as well as birds. Tetanurans first appear during the early or middle Jurassic Period.-Definition:...
incertae sedis
Incertae sedis
, is a term used to define a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Uncertainty at specific taxonomic levels is attributed by , , and similar terms.-Examples:*The fossil plant Paradinandra suecica could not be assigned to any...
and dubious.
Paleobiology
As a small theropod, Sinocoelurus would have been an agile, bipedBiped
Bipedalism is a form of terrestrial locomotion where an organism moves by means of its two rear limbs, or legs. An animal or machine that usually moves in a bipedal manner is known as a biped , meaning "two feet"...
al carnivore
Carnivore
A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging...
.
Miscellany
Due to romanizationRomanization
In linguistics, romanization or latinization is the representation of a written word or spoken speech with the Roman script, or a system for doing so, where the original word or language uses a different writing system . Methods of romanization include transliteration, for representing written...
variations, the location may be given as Kuangyuan, Szechuan Basin.
The unserrated teeth have led at least one Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
source to compare the genus to spinosaurids. As this was self-acknowledged unfounded speculation, the originator retracted it.