In Depth
The creation of the Bellusaurus was born out of the discovery of a bonebed of at least seventeen individuals. Features on some of these fossil such as the lack of fusion on some parts means that these individuals are probably juveniles and therefore not fully grown. It has also led to speculation that Bellusaurus may actually be the juvenile form of the previously named but not yet well understood genus.
Other sauropods known from the same formation as Bellusaurus include Mamenchisaurus, Klamelisaurus and Tienshanosaurus. Predatory threats to Bellusaurus include Monolophosaurus, the tyrannosaur Guanlong and the allosaurid Sinraptor. Other creatures that Bellusaurus may have come into contact with include the stegosaur Jiangjunosaurus, the basal ceratopsian yinlong and the pterosaur Sericipterus.
Further Reading
- Sauropoda from the Kelamaili region of the Junggar Basin, Xinjiang Autonomous Region - Z. Dong - 1990.
