Koreanosaurus: Research Database
Ornithischia (Dinosauria) · Early Cretaceous · Asia — South Korea
Research Note: Koreanosaurus was a small ornithischian dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of South Korea. It contributes to our understanding of ornithischian diversity in Early Cretaceous East Asia and the biogeographic connections between Korean and other Asian dinosaur faunas.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Pereda-Suberbiola et al. 1994: Koreanosaurus from the Early Cretaceous of South Korea
Pereda-Suberbiola et al. 1994 document Koreanosaurus from the Early Cretaceous of South Korea, establishing its morphology and taxonomic context within Asian ornithischian diversity
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Confirmed | A | 1994 | Fossil | Pereda-Suberbiola et al., Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie | Taxonomy |
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Galton 1995: Additional ornithischian material from the Cretaceous of Korea
Galton 1995 provides additional data on ornithischian dinosaurs from the Cretaceous of Korea, including specimens relevant to understanding Koreanosaurus and Korean dinosaur biodiversity
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Confirmed | B | 1995 | Fossil | Galton, Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie | Diversity |
Active Debate: Ornithischian Biogeography in Early Cretaceous East Asia
The precise taxonomic attribution of Koreanosaurus material and its relationships to other Asian ornithischians continues to be refined as more specimens are discovered.
What We Still Do Not Know About Koreanosaurus
- Complete skeletal morphology: Partial specimen known.
- Precise phylogenetic placement: Debated.
- Body mass: Estimated.
- Social behavior: No direct evidence.
In Depth
Before this genus was named, Koreanosaurus was the informal name given to a theropod dinosaur, though because no formal description for these theropod fossils was published, the name Koreanosaurus was still available. Henceforth, Koreanosaurus is now a valid genus of ornithopod dinosaur. Koreanosaurus is a possible relative of the genera Orodromeus, Oryctodromeus and Zephyrosaurus, and like these would have been a fairly small herbivorous dinosaur.
Further Reading
- A new basal ornithopod dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of South Korea. - Neues Jahrbuch f�r Geologie und Pal�ontologie Abhandlungen 259:1-24. - M. Huh, D.-G. Lee, J.-K. Kim, J.-D. Lim & P. Godefroit - 2011.
