Yixianosaurus

Yi-chow-oh-sore-us
Published on

John Stewart

Paleoecologist

John Stewart is a distinguished paleoecologist whose work has significantly advanced our understanding of prehistoric ecosystems. With over two decades dedicated to unearthing fossils across Asia and Africa

Cite Feedback Print

Name

Yixianosaurus (Yixian lizard)

Phonetic

Yi-chow-oh-sore-us

Named By

Xu Xing and Wang Xiaolin - 2003

Classification

Chordata, Reptilia, Dinosauria, Saurischia, Theropoda, Tetanurae, Coelurosauria, Maniraptora.

Diet

Uncertain. Possibly an Insectivore.

Species

Y. longimanus

Size

Estimated at possibly up to one meter long.

Known locations

China, Liaoning.

Time Period

Barremian of the Cretaceous.

Fossil representation

The forelimbs, shoulder, some ribs, gastralia and feathers are all that are so far known.

In Depth

       With greatly elongated fingers the hands are a tantalising find for palaeontologists, but without the rest of the skeleton it is impossible to give an accurate insight into this creature’s life. One possible explanation is that Yixianosaurus lived like a modern day aye-aye. Aye-aye’s also have hands that have impressively long fingers which they use for climbing trees and digging out grubs from inside the trees.

Further Reading

– A new maniraptoran dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation of western Liaoning. – Vertebrata PalAsiatica 41(3):195-202/ – X. Xu & X.-L. Wang – 2003. – A re-analysis of the ‘coeluriasaurian pit-bull’ Yixianosaurus longimanus with implications for the theropod dinosaur diversity of the Jehol Biota. – Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 28(3): 81A. – T. A. Dececchi, D. Hone, H. Larsson, C. Sullivan & X. Xu – 2010. – The systematic position of the enigmatic theropod dinosaur Yixianosaurus longimanus. – Vertebrata PalAsiatica 51(3): 169-183. – Xu Xing, Corwin Sullivan & Wang Shuo – 2013.

Adopt A Species
prehistoric-wildlife new logo

Love this species?

Adopt it today!

(UPDATED!)

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

Coccosteus Reconstruction Illustration