Zizhongosaurus
Encyclopedia
Zizhongosaurus is a genus
of basal herbivorous
sauropod dinosaur
which lived in the Early Jurassic
Period of China
. It was a large-bodied herbivore characterized by a long neck.
The type species
Zizhongosaurus chuanchengensis was named in 1983 by Dong Zhiming
, Zhou Shiwu and Zhang Yihong. The generic name is derived from Zizhong County
in Sichuan
Province. The specific name refers to the town of Chuancheng.
The type specimens consist of three syntype
s: V9067.1 is a partial dorsal vertebra; V9067.2 is a humerus
or upper arm; and V9067.3 is a pubis
. All specimens likely were part of a single skeleton. Zizhongosaurus was described as a small species.
In 1999 Li Kui
mentioned a second species: Zizhongosaurus huangshibanensis but this has remained an undescribed nomen nudum
.
Zizhongosaurus was originally assigned to the Cetiosaurinae but later authors have placed it in either the Vulcanodontidae
, as a relative of Barapasaurus
, or the Shunosaurinae. It is today often considered a nomen dubium
.
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 basal herbivorous
Herbivore
Herbivores are organisms that are anatomically and physiologically adapted to eat plant-based foods. Herbivory is a form of consumption in which an organism principally eats autotrophs such as plants, algae and photosynthesizing bacteria. More generally, organisms that feed on autotrophs in...
sauropod 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...
which lived in the Early Jurassic
Early Jurassic
The Early Jurassic epoch is the earliest of three epochs of the Jurassic period...
Period of 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 a large-bodied herbivore characterized by a long neck.
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...
Zizhongosaurus chuanchengensis was named in 1983 by Dong Zhiming
Dong Zhiming
Dong Zhiming , from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing, is one of China's leading paleontologists. He began working at the IVPP in 1962, learning from Yang Zhongjian who was director at the time...
, Zhou Shiwu and Zhang Yihong. The generic name is derived from Zizhong County
Zizhong County
Zizhong County is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of Neijiang city.....
in 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...
Province. The specific name refers to the town of Chuancheng.
The type specimens consist of three syntype
Syntype
In biological nomenclature, a syntype is a term used to indicate a specimen with a special status.In zoological nomenclature, a syntype is defined as "Each specimen of a type series from which neither a holotype nor a lectotype has been designated [Arts. 72.1.2, 73.2, 74]. The syntypes...
s: V9067.1 is a partial dorsal vertebra; V9067.2 is a humerus
Humerus
The humerus is a long bone in the arm or forelimb that runs from the shoulder to the elbow....
or upper arm; and V9067.3 is a pubis
Pubis (bone)
In vertebrates, the pubic bone is the ventral and anterior of the three principal bones composing either half of the pelvis.It is covered by a layer of fat, which is covered by the mons pubis....
. All specimens likely were part of a single skeleton. Zizhongosaurus was described as a small species.
In 1999 Li Kui
Li Kui
Li Kui is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 22nd of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Black Whirlwind".-Background:...
mentioned a second species: Zizhongosaurus huangshibanensis but this has remained an undescribed nomen nudum
Nomen nudum
The phrase nomen nudum is a Latin term, meaning "naked name", used in taxonomy...
.
Zizhongosaurus was originally assigned to the Cetiosaurinae but later authors have placed it in either the Vulcanodontidae
Vulcanodontidae
The Early Jurassic sauropod dinosaurs Zizhongosaurus, Barapasaurus, Tazoudasaurus, and Vulcanodon may form a natural group of basal sauropods called the Vulcanodontidae. Basal vulcanodonts include some of the earliest known examples of sauropods. The family-level name Vulcanodontidae was erected by...
, as a relative of Barapasaurus
Barapasaurus
Barapasaurus is a genus of sauropod dinosaur from Early Jurassic rocks of India. The specific name for its only species, B. tagorei, means 'Tagore's', which honors Bengali poet, writer, painter, and musician Rabindranath Tagore.-Description:...
, or the Shunosaurinae. It is today often considered a nomen dubium
Nomen dubium
In zoological nomenclature, a nomen dubium is a scientific name that is of unknown or doubtful application...
.
External links
- Zizhongosaurus in the Dinosaur Encyclopaedia at Dino Russ's Lair