In Depth
Daliansaurus is a genus of small troodontid dinosaur that lived in China during the early Cretaceous. Many trrodontid dinosaurs are known to have been living in the same approximate time and location as Daliansaurus, but the describing paleontologists identified several features that differentiate this genus from others. Some of the clearer differences are that the humerus (upper arm bone) is longer than most other troodontid genera in the regions, and the teeth have a ‘D’ shape to them instead of being recurved (curving so the tips point back slightly towards the back of the mouth). Most telling of all perhaps is the presence of an enlarged claw on the fourth toe of the foot, in addition to the large sickle shaped claw on the second toe.
Daliansaurus is among several troodontid dinosaurs known from the Yixian Fomration. These include Sinovenator, Mei and Sinusonasus, which may have been closely related to Daliansaurus, as well as Jianianhualong and Liaoningvenator.
Further Reading
- A new troodontid dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Liaoning Province, China. Acta Geologica Sinica 91(3):763-780. - C.-Z. Shen, J.-C. Lu, S.-H. Liu, M. Kundrat, S. L. Brusatte & H.-L. Gao - 2017.
