Gannansaurus

Say it like this: “ga-nan-SOR-us”

Gannansaurus sinensis

Gannansaurus ate plants and walked on four legs. It lived in the Late Cretaceous. Bones have been found in China.

Quiz me on Gannansaurus

When: Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) · roughly 72.2 to 66 million years ago
Named in: 2013 · Lü, J.; Yi, L.; Zhong, H.; Wei, X.
Hip height: Not established
Length: 25 m · 82 ft
Weight: Not established
Found in: China · Nanxiong
Food and walking: Herbivore · Four legs
Kind: long-neck giant · Sauropod
Family branch: Somphospondyli

The story in short

The genus Gannansaurus dates to 2013, the year J. Lü and colleagues described it. The name honors a person tied to the fossil or its study.

Fossils referred to Gannansaurus date to the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian), roughly 72.2 to 66 million years ago. Finds come from China, including the Nanxiong Formation. It was a herbivore and walked on four legs.

Published estimates put Gannansaurus at a length near 25 m.

On the family tree it sits in Somphospondyli, among the sauropod dinosaurs.

Close relatives

Abdarainurus

Abdarainurus barsboldi

Late Cretaceous (Campanian) · roughly 83.6 to 72.2 million years ago

Angolatitan

Angolatitan adamastor

Late Cretaceous (Coniacian) · roughly 89.8 to 85.7 million years ago

Arkharavia

Arkharavia heterocoelica

Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) · roughly 72.2 to 66 million years ago