Xuanhanosaurus

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Xuanhanosaurus Fossil range: Mid to Late Jurassic
Conservation status
Extinct (fossil)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Superorder: Dinosauria Order: Saurischia Suborder: Theropoda Infraorder: Carnosauria Genus: Xuanhanosaurus
Species
X. qilixianensis Dong, 1984 (type)

Xuanhanosaurus ("Xuanhan lizard") is a theropod dinosaur of the Jurassic. It was approximately 6 m (20 ft) in length and 2 m (7 ft) in height, with a weight of 250 kg (550 lb). The dinosaur was found in China's Lower Shaximiao Formation, part of the Dashanpu Formation.

Xuanhanosaurus had unusually long arms for a theropod, which were substantially reduced in later theropods such as Tyrannosaurus rex. This primitive meat-eater had powerful forelimbs. Dong Zhiming, the Chinese scientist who named it, suggested that Xuanhanosaurus might have walked on all four legs because of its unusually long and primitive front limbs. If so, it would be the only known four-legged meat-eater among dinosaurs. Other paleontologists do not agree with Dong. They think this dinosaur walked on its hind legs as other meat-eaters did.

[edit] References

• The Theropod Database on Xuanhanosaurus