Guanlong
Name: Guanlong
(Crown dragon).
Phonetic: Gwon-long.
Named By: Xu et al. - 2006.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia, Dinosauria,
Saurischia, Theropoda, Proceratosauridae.).
Species: G. wucaii (type).
Diet: Carnivore.
Size: 3 meters long.
Known locations: China - Shishugou Formation.
Time period: Oxfordian of the Jurassic.
Fossil representation: Two specimens, one almost
complete partially articulated adult, one almost complete and fully
articulated juvenile.
Guanlong
is well-known among palaeontological circles as the first tyrannosaur,
although new discoveries in the future may take this epithet away from
Guanlong. The discovery of Guanlong
lends support to the theory that
the early origins of the tyrannosaurs can be traced back to Asia.
From here fossil evidence from the discovery of Stokesosaurus
indicates that they primarily radiated towards North America,
although it’s possible that they also spread in the opposite
direction to Europe.
One
thing that Guanlong is arguably more famous for is
its elaborate head
crest, the inspiration for Guanlong's name
'crown lizard'. This
crest rose up from the snout between the nostrils and eyes and curved
over in an arc above the back of the skull. Study of the crests has
revealed that they were very fragile, confirming the notion that they
were only for display. As such the crests were probably a different
colour to the rest of the body, and may have increased in colour
intensity as Guanlong reached breeding condition
Further reading
- A basal tyrannosauroid dinosaur from the Late Jurassic of China -
Nature 439 (7077): 715–718. - X. Xu, J. M. Clark, C. A. Forster, M. A.
Norell, G. M. Erickson, D. A. Eberth, C. Jia & Q. Zhao - 2006.
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