Nanshiungosaurus

Say it like this: “NAHN-SHYUNG-o-SAWR-us”

Nanshiungosaurus brevispinus

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

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When: Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) · roughly 72.2 to 66 million years ago
Named in: 1979 · Dong, Z.
Hip height: 1.8 m · 6 ft
Length: 5 m · 16 ft
Weight: 600–907 kg · 1,323–2,000 lb
Found in: China · Nanxiong
Food and walking: Herbivore · Two legs
Kind: sharp-clawed runner · Theropod
Family branch: Therizinosauridae

The story in short

Nanshiungosaurus was formally named in 1979 by Z. Dong. The name honors a person tied to the fossil or its study.

It lived in 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 two legs.

Published estimates put Nanshiungosaurus at a length near 5 m, hips about 1.8 m high, and a body mass around 600–907 kg.

On the family tree it sits in Therizinosauridae, among the theropod dinosaurs.

Close relatives

Duonychus

Duonychus tsogtbaatari

Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian–Santonian) · roughly 100.5 to 83.6 million years ago

Erlikosaurus

Erlikosaurus andrewsi

Late Cretaceous (Turonian · Coniacian · Santonian) · roughly 93.9 to 83.6 million years ago

Nothronychus

Nothronychus mckinleyi

Late Cretaceous (Turonian) · roughly 93.9 to 89.8 million years ago