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A new basal ankylosaurid (Dinosauria: Ornithischia) from the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of Liaoning Province, China - PubMed

  • ️Wed Jan 01 2014

A new basal ankylosaurid (Dinosauria: Ornithischia) from the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of Liaoning Province, China

Fenglu Han et al. PLoS One. 2014.

Abstract

A new ankylosaurid, Chuanqilong chaoyangensis gen. et sp. nov., is described here based on a nearly complete skeleton from the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of Baishizui Village, Lingyuan City, Liaoning Province, China. Chuanqilong chaoyangensis can be diagnosed on the basis of two autapomorphies (glenoid fossa for quadrate at same level as the dentary tooth row; distally tapering ischium with constricted midshaft) and also a unique combination of character states (slender, wedge-like lacrimal; long retroarticular process; humerus with strongly expanded proximal end; ratio of humerus to femur length = 0.88). Although a phylogenetic analysis places Chuanqilong chaoyangensis as the sister taxon of the sympatric Liaoningosaurus near the base of the Ankylosauridae, the two taxa can be distinguished on the basis of many features, such as tooth morphology and ischial shape, which are not ontogeny-related. Chuanqilong chaoyangensis represents the fourth ankylosaurid species reported from the Cretaceous of Liaoning, China, suggesting a relatively high diversity in Cretaceous Liaoning.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Locality maps.

A, map of China showing location of Liaoning Province; B, enlarged map of Liaoning Province showing locality of fossil site, south of Lingyuan; C, enlarged map of Lingyuan city showing locality of fossil site at Baishizui village. [planned for page width].

Figure 2
Figure 2. A stratigraphic column of the Jehol Group showing the position of Liaoningosaurus and Chuanqilong.

Modified after . [planned for page width].

Figure 3
Figure 3. Photograph and outline drawing of the skeleton of Chuanqilong chaoyangensis.

A, photograph; B, outline drawing. Abbreviations: ca, caudal vertebrae; cb, cervical band; da, dermal armor; dr, dorsal rib; lfe, left femur; lfi, left fibula; lhu, left humerus; lil, left ilium; lis, left ischium; lma, left maxilla; lmd, left mandible; lmt, left metatarsal; lra, left radius; lsc, left scapula; lti, left tibia; lul, left ulna; mc, metacarpals; orb, orbital; pl, plates; q, quadrate; rfe, right femur; rfi, right fibula; rhu, right humerus; ril, right ilium; rma, right maxilla; rmd, right mandible; rmt, right metatarsals; rra, right radius; rsc, right scapula; rti, right tibia; rul, right ulna; sar, sacral rib; te, tendons. [planned for page width].

Figure 4
Figure 4. Holotype skull and mandibles of Chuanqilong chaoyangensis.

A, photograph in ventral view; B, outline drawing in ventral view; C, close up to maxillary teeth in lateral view. Abbreviations: afe, antorbital fenestra; ar, articular; cv, cervical vertebra; la, lacrimal; ld, left dentary; lma, left maxillary; orb, orbital; ppq, pterygoid process of the quadrate; q, quadrate; rd, right dentary; rma, right maxilla; so, supraorbital; sq, squamosal. [planned for page width].

Figure 5
Figure 5. Postcranial materials of Chuanqilong chaoyangensis.

A, right scapula in lateral view; B, left humerus in cranial view; C, right humerus in lateral view; D, left ulna in medial view; E, left radius in medial view; F, disarticulated left metacarpals and phalanges; G, right femur in caudal view; H, left femur in cranial view; I, articulated left tibia and fibula in cranial view; J, right metatarsals in cranial view; unguals in both cranial and caudal view. Note that due to compression of the right femur, the cranial trochanter is visible in posterior view whereas it would normally be obscured. Abbreviations: dc, deltopectoral crest; fh, femoral head; fi, fibula; fth, fourth trochanter; gt, greater trochanter; lc, lateral condyle; ct, cranial trochanter; mc, medial condyle; ti, tibia. [planned for page width].

Figure 6
Figure 6. Comparison of outline drawings of ankylosaur humeri.

A–G, right humeri in cranial view. A, Sauropelta edwardsi (YPM 5179), redrawn from ; B, Hungarosaurus tormai (MTM 2007.25.3), redrawn from ; C, Crichtonsaurus benxiensis (BXGMV0012), redrawn from ; D, Niobrarasaurus coleii (MU 650 VP), redrawn from ; E, Ankylosaurus magniventris (AMNH 5214), redrawn from ; F, Euoplocephalus tutus (AMNH 5337), redrawn from ; G, Liaoningosaurus paradoxus (IVPP V12560); H–I, left humerus in cranial view. H, Chuanqilong chaoyangensis; I, Cedarpelta bilbeyhallorum (CEUM 11629), redrawn from ; J, Pinacosaurus (MPC 100/1310), redrawn from . Scale bars in A–F, H–I equal 10 cm; Scale bar in G equals 1 cm; scale bar in J equals 5 cm. [planned for page width].

Figure 7
Figure 7. Comparison of outline drawings of ankylosaur ulnae.

A, Chuanqilong chaoyangensis, left ulna in medial view; B, Liaoningosaurus paradoxus (IVPP V12560), left ulna in medial view; C, Peloroplites cedrimontanus (CEUM 11347), right ulna in lateral view, from ; D, Hungarosaurus tormai (MTM 2007.25.2), right ulna in lateral view, from ; E, Niobrosaurus coleii (MU 650 VP), right ulna in lateral view, from ; F, Minmi sp. (QMF 18101), left ulna in medial view, from ; G, Cedarpelta bilbeyhallorum (CEUM 10256), left ulna in medial view, from ; H, Euoplocephalus tutus (AMNH 5406), right ulna in medial view, from ; I, Pinacosaurus (MPC 100/1323), left ulna in lateral view, from . Scale bars in A, C–H equal10 cm; scale bar in B equals 1 cm; scale bar in I equals 5 cm. [planned for page width].

Figure 8
Figure 8. Left ilium and Ischia of Chuanqilong chaoyangensis in lateral view.

A, left ilium in ventral view; B, right ischium in lateral view; C, left ischium in lateral view. [planned for column width].

Figure 9
Figure 9. Comparison of outline drawings of ankylosaur ischia.

A–F, left ischium in lateral view. A, Ankylosaurus magniventris (AMNH 5214), redrawn from ; B, Scolosaurus cutleri (TMP 2001.42.19), redrawn from ; C, Edmontonia rugosidens, redrawn from ; D, Cedarpelta bilbeyhallorum (CEUM 10266) from ; E, cf. Pinacosaurus, MPC 100/1305 in lateral view, from , ; F, Chuanqilong chaoyangensis in lateral view; G–H, right ischium in lateral view; G, Chuanqilong chaoyangensis; H, Liaoningosaurus paradoxus (IVPP V12560). Scar bars in A–G equal 10 cm; scale bar in H equals 1 cm. [planned for column width].

Figure 10
Figure 10. Differential forelimb and hind limb measurements across ankylosaurs.

Symbols for Chuanqilong are in red. A, plot of humeral length versus femoral length. Values for Chuanqilong is fall well below the line of best fit; B, plot of tibial length versus femoral length. Abbreviations: Al, Anodontosaurus lambei; Am, Ankylosaurus magniventris; Ar, Animantarx ramaljonesi; Cbe, Crichtonsaurus benxiensis; Cbo, Crichtonsaurus bohlini; Cc, Chuanqilong chaoyangensis; cfP, cf. Pinacosaurus; Et1, Euoplocephalus tucki UALVP 31; Et2, Euoplocephalus tucki AMNH 5404; Gp, Gargoyleosaurus parkpinoorum; Ht, Hungarosaurus tormai; Lp, Liaoningosaurus paradoxus; ns, nodosaurid scuteling from Paw Paw Formation; Pf, Polacanthus foxii; Pg, Pinacosaurus grangeri; Sc, Scolosaurus cutleri; Se, Sauropelta edwardsi; Tp, Talarurus plicatospineus. [planned for page width].

Figure 11
Figure 11. Derivative strict reduced consensus tree of ankylosaurian relationships.

Zhejiangosaurus, Niobrarasaurus, Hungarosaurus, Actarctopelta, Anoplosaurus, Polacathus rodgwickensis, and Stegopelta were pruned a posteriori to improve resolution. Values above nodes are bootstraps, and values below nodes are Bremer support values. See text for further details. [planned for page width].

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This project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41120124002; 41172026) and 973 program (2012CB821900). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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