Wuzhoulong

Wuzhoulong amurense is a genus of ornithomimosaurian dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous period of China. It is known from a partial skeleton discovered in the Nabainhe Formation of Heilongjiang Province.

Discovery and Naming

The holotype specimen, GMH W184, was found in 2000. It consists of a partial skeleton including vertebrae, ribs, partial forelimbs, and hindlimbs. The genus name Wuzhoulong refers to the city of Wuzhou, where the preparator of the fossil, Lü Junchang, worked. The specific name amurense refers to the Amur River (Heilong Jiang in Chinese), which flows near the discovery site. The discovery and naming were formally published in 2007 by Xing Xu, Dong Zhiming, You Hailu, Zhang Jiaojie, and Lü Junchang.

Description

Wuzhoulong was a relatively small ornithomimosaur, estimated to have been approximately 3.3 meters (11 feet) long. The preserved bones suggest a slender build, characteristic of ornithomimosaurs. Key features that distinguish Wuzhoulong from other ornithomimosaurs include details of the vertebrae and limb bones. The humerus possesses a distinct deltopectoral crest.

Classification

Phylogenetic analyses have placed Wuzhoulong within the Ornithomimosauria, a group of bird-like dinosaurs that were characterized by long arms and legs, a small head, and a beak-like mouth. Its exact position within Ornithomimosauria has varied in different analyses, with some studies placing it near the base of the ornithomimosaur family tree.

Paleoecology

Wuzhoulong lived in what is now northeastern China during the Early Cretaceous period. The Nabainhe Formation, where it was discovered, preserves evidence of a diverse ecosystem including other dinosaurs, reptiles, and plants. Wuzhoulong, like other ornithomimosaurs, was likely an omnivore or herbivore, using its beak to pluck leaves and fruits or to capture small animals.