In Depth
Huashanosaurus was an early eusauropod sauropod dinosaur from the Wangmen Formation of Guangxi, southern China.
The name means “Huashan Mountain lizard,” in reference to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Huashan Mountain and its famous rock art. The species name, qini, honors Jian Qin, the local teacher who first discovered the remains.
Fossil Remains and Description
The fossils of Huashanosaurus include parts of the backbone, ribs, limbs, pelvis, and tail, with bones found during excavations in the early 2000s and later in 2017. Even though the remains are incomplete, scientists were able to identify it as a sauropod.
Huashanosaurus is estimated to have grown to about 12 meters in length. It had the typical body shape of a sauropod, with a long neck, sturdy legs, and a long tail. Its bones show it was an early member of the Eusauropoda, closely related to Chinese sauropods like Mamenchisaurus and Omeisaurus.
Classification
Studies place Huashanosaurus near the base of Eusauropoda, more advanced than early sauropods like Shunosaurus but not as specialized as the giant later forms. This makes it an important find for understanding how sauropods spread and evolved in Asia during the Jurassic.
Further Reading
A new eusauropod dinosaur from the Lower and Middle Jurassic Wangmen Formation of Ningming County, Guangxi, South China – Acta Geologica Sinica (English edition). 99 (4): 909–924. – Mo, Jinyou; Zhou, Xiuzhen; Fu, Qiongyao; Xiong, Duo; Hu, Minhang; Xu, Xing (2025-08-19).
