Chiayusaurus

Che-ah-yu-sore-us.
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Cassidy Wood

Paleoentomologist

Cassidy Wood uncovers the tiny yet significant world of prehistoric insects. Her research on amber-preserved specimens has revealed intricate details about ancient ecosystems.

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Name

Chiayusaurus ‭(‬Chiayukuan lizard‭)‬.

Phonetic

Che-ah-yu-sore-us.

Named By

Birgir Bohlin‭ ‬-‭ ‬1953.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Dinosauria,‭ ‬Saurischia,‭ ‬Sauropoda.

Diet

Herbivore.

Species

C.‭ ‬lacustris‭

Size

Impossible to know because no skeletal reamins exist only‭ ‬teeth.

Known locations

China‭ ‬-‭ ‬Kalazha Formation.‭ ‬South Korea‭ ‬-‭ ‬Hasandong Formation.

Time Period

Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous.

Fossil representation

Two teeth.

In Depth

       Chiayusaurus is a highly dubious genus of sauropod dinosaur because the type species is based upon the description of a tooth crown.‭ ‬The problem with such tooth taxons is that unless in exceptionally rare cases‭ (‬like with Troodon‭)‬,‭ ‬it is next to impossible to assign further remains.‭ ‬Even a second species named C.‭ ‬asianensis from South Korea is only represented by a tooth.‭ ‬In the past the teeth of Chiayusaurus have been noted to be similar to Asiatosaurus and Euhelopus.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬Fossil reptiles from Mongolia and Kansu‭ ‬-‭ ‬The Sino-Swedish Expedition Publication‭ ‬37‭ (‬6‭)‬:‭ ‬1‭–‬113.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Birgir Bohlin‭ ‬-‭ ‬1953. -‭ ‬Sauropod dinosaur remains from the Gyeongsang Supergroup Korea.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Paleontological Society of Korea,‭ ‬Special Publication‭ ‬2:‭ ‬103‭–‬114.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Yuong-Nam Lee,‭ ‬Seong-Young Yang‭ & ‬Eun-Jun Park‭ ‬-‭ ‬1997.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT