Wannanosaurus

Wan-nan-oh-sore-us.
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Liam Carter

Paleoanthropologist

Liam Carter explores the roots of humanity by studying early human fossils and artifacts. His ground-breaking work has provided a deeper understanding of our ancestors' lifestyles and social structures.

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Name

Wannanosaurus‭ (‬Lizard from Wannan‭)‬.

Phonetic

Wan-nan-oh-sore-us.

Named By

Hou‭ ‬– 1977.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Dinosauria,‭ ‬Ornithischia,‭ ‬Cerapoda,‭ ‬Pachycephalosauria.

Diet

Herbivore.

Species

W.‭ ‬yansiensis

Size

Estimated‭ ‬60cm long.

Known locations

China -‭ ‬Xiaoyan Formation.

Time Period

Campanian of the Cretaceous.

Fossil representation

Skull fragment,‭ ‬part of left mandible,‭ ‬six vertebrae,‭ ‬part of ilium,femora,‭ ‬left and right tibia,‭ ‬left fibula,‭ ‬humerus.

In Depth

       Little is known about Wannanosaurus,‭ ‬but the skull specimen found appears to have been from a fully grown adult as the bones that make up the skull show signs of being fused together.‭ ‬Wannanosaurus is considered a primitive member of the pachycephalosaurs because it has a flat skull roof and enlarged openings when compared to other later pachycephalosaurs.

Further Reading

– A new primitive Pachycephalosauria from Anhui, China.It is the second smallest dinosaur in world after Microceratops. – Vertebrata PalAsiatica. 15 (3): 198–202. – Hou Lian-Hai – 1977.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT