Zizhongosaurus (phonetically spelled as Zie-zong-o-sore-us) is a chuanchengensis type species dinosaur named by Dong Zhiming, Zhou Shiwu and Zhang Yihong in 1983. The classification of this species is as follows:
Chordta – Reptilia – Dinosauria – Saurischia – Sauropodomorpha – Sauropoda – Vulvanodontidae
The size of Zizhongosaurus is uncertain due to lack of remains. They followed an herbivorous diet. The known location of this species is the Sichuan Province in China. They existed during the Early Jurassic Period. The fossil representations are partial post cranial remains including a humerus, pubis, and vertebra.
The generic name of the Zizhongosaurus is derived from Zizhong County in Sichuan Province. The specific name refers to the town of Chuancheng. Zizhongosaurus was described as a small species. Zizhongosaurus is a genus of basal herbivorous sauropod dinosaur which lived in the Early Jurassic Period of China. It was a large-bodied herbivore characterized by a long neck.
Li Kui mentioned a second species, Zizhongosaurus huangshibanensis in 1999 but this has remained an undescribed nomen nudum. Zizhongosaurus was originally assigned to the Cetiosaurinae. Later the authors have placed it in either the Vulcanodontidae, as a relative of Barapasaurus or the Shunosaurinae. It is today often considered a nomen dubium. The type specimens consist of three syntypes: V9067.1 is a partial dorsal vertebra, V9067.2 is a humerus or upper arm and V9067.3 is a pubis. All specimens likely were part of a single skeleton.
Name: | Zizhongosaurus (Zizhong lizard). |
Phonetic: | Zie-zong-o-sore-us. |
Fossil representation: | Paritial post cranial remains, including a humerus, pubis, and vertebra. |