Tsintaosaurus
Encyclopedia
Tsintaosaurus is a genus
of hadrosaurid dinosaur
from China
. It was about 10 metres (32.8 ft) long, 3.6 metres (11.8 ft) tall and weighed 3 tons. The type species
is T. spinorhinus, first described by C. C. Young
in 1958.
A hadrosaur, Tsintaosaurus had a characteristic 'duck
bill' snout and a battery of powerful teeth which it used to chew vegetation. It usually walked on all fours, but could rear up on its hind legs to scout for predators and flee when it spotted one. Like other hadrosaurs, Tsintaosaurus probably lived in herds.
Tsintaosaurus is typically reconstructed with a unicorn
-like crest on its skull. In the 1990s, some studies cast doubt on the presence of the crest, suggesting that the 'crest' was actually a broken bone from the top of the snout distorted upward by crushing. The study further suggested that, without the distinctive crest to distinguish it, Tsintaosaurus was actually a synonym of the similar but crestless hadrosaur Tanius
. However, a second specimen with the same upright crest has since been discovered, showing that the crest was indeed real and Tsintaosaurus is likely a distinct genus.
in Lambeosaurinae with the European genera Pararhabdodon
and Koutalisaurus
(probable synonym of Pararhabdodon).
, in what is now Shandong
, in the southern part of China
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of hadrosaurid dinosaur
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 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 was about 10 metres (32.8 ft) long, 3.6 metres (11.8 ft) tall and weighed 3 tons. The type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
is T. spinorhinus, first described by C. C. Young
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 1958.
A hadrosaur, Tsintaosaurus had a characteristic 'duck
Duck
Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...
bill' snout and a battery of powerful teeth which it used to chew vegetation. It usually walked on all fours, but could rear up on its hind legs to scout for predators and flee when it spotted one. Like other hadrosaurs, Tsintaosaurus probably lived in herds.
Crest
Unicorn
The unicorn is a legendary animal from European folklore that resembles a white horse with a large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead, and sometimes a goat's beard...
-like crest on its skull. In the 1990s, some studies cast doubt on the presence of the crest, suggesting that the 'crest' was actually a broken bone from the top of the snout distorted upward by crushing. The study further suggested that, without the distinctive crest to distinguish it, Tsintaosaurus was actually a synonym of the similar but crestless hadrosaur Tanius
Tanius
Tanius is a genus of hadrosauroid dinosaur. It lived in the Late Cretaceous of the People's Republic of China.The type species, named and described in 1929 by Carl Wiman, is Tanius sinensis. The generic name honours the Chinese paleontologist Tan Xichou...
. However, a second specimen with the same upright crest has since been discovered, showing that the crest was indeed real and Tsintaosaurus is likely a distinct genus.
Classification
Tsintaosaurus may form a cladeClade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...
in Lambeosaurinae with the European genera Pararhabdodon
Pararhabdodon
Pararhabdodon was a genus of derived hadrosauroid or basal hadrosaurid dinosaur, from the Maastrichtian-age Upper Cretaceous Tremp Formation of Spain...
and Koutalisaurus
Koutalisaurus
Koutalisaurus was a genus of hadrosaurid dinosaur. It is based on a mostly complete dentary from the Maastrichtian-age Upper Cretaceous Tremp Formation near the town of Abella de la Conca, Lleida, Spain...
(probable synonym of Pararhabdodon).
Range
Tsintaosaurus lived in Southeast AsiaSoutheast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, in what is now Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
, in the southern part of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
External links
- Tsintaosaurus in the Dinosaur Encyclopedia at DinoRuss' Lair