Xiongguanlong

Say it like this: “zhong-GWAN-long”

Xiongguanlong baimoensis

Xiongguanlong ate meat and walked on two legs. It lived in the Early Cretaceous. Bones have been found in China.

Quiz me on Xiongguanlong

When: Early Cretaceous (Aptian) · roughly 121.4 to 113.2 million years ago
Named in: 2010 · Li, D.; Norell, M. A.; Gao, K. Q.; Smith, N. D.; Makovicky, P. J.
Hip height: 1.1 m · 4 ft
Length: 5 m · 16 ft
Weight: 200–270 kg · 441–595 lb
Found in: China · Xiagou
Food and walking: Carnivore · Two legs
Kind: sharp-clawed runner · Theropod
Family branch: Tyrannosauroidea

The story in short

In 2010, D. Li and colleagues published the name Xiongguanlong. The name means “grand pass.”

Fossils referred to Xiongguanlong date to the Early Cretaceous (Aptian), roughly 121.4 to 113.2 million years ago. Finds come from China, including the Xiagou Formation. It was a carnivore and walked on two legs.

Published estimates put Xiongguanlong at a length near 5 m, hips about 1.1 m high, and a body mass around 200–270 kg.

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

Close relatives

Alectrosaurus

Alectrosaurus olseni

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

Aviatyrannis

Aviatyrannis jurassica

Late Jurassic (Oxfordian · Kimmeridgian · Tithonian) · roughly 161.5 to 143.1 million years ago

Calamosaurus

Calamosaurus foxi

Early Cretaceous (Barremian) · roughly 125.8 to 121.4 million years ago