Yuxisaurus

Say it like this: “YOO-she-SOR-us”

Yuxisaurus kopchicki

Yuxisaurus ate plants and walked on four legs. It lived in the Early Jurassic. Bones have been found in China.

Quiz me on Yuxisaurus

When: Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian) · roughly 192.9 to 184.2 million years ago
Named in: 2022 · Yao, X.; Barrett, P. M.; Yang, L.; Xu, X.; Bi, S. D.
Hip height: Not established
Length: Not established
Weight: Not established
Found in: China · Fengjiahe
Food and walking: Herbivore · Four legs
Kind: bird-hipped dinosaur · Ornithischian
Family branch: Thyreophora

The story in short

In 2022, X. Yao and colleagues published the name Yuxisaurus. The name means “yuxi lizard.”

Fossils referred to Yuxisaurus date to the Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian), roughly 192.9 to 184.2 million years ago. Finds come from China, including the Fengjiahe Formation. It was a herbivore and walked on four legs.

The fossils of Yuxisaurus are too incomplete for a responsible length, hip height, or weight, so those fields are left blank on purpose.

On the family tree it sits in Thyreophora, among the bird-hipped dinosaurs.

Close relatives

Bienosaurus

Bienosaurus lufengensis

Early Jurassic (Hettangian · Sinemurian) · roughly 201.4 to 192.9 million years ago

Emausaurus

Emausaurus ernsti

Early Jurassic (Toarcian) · roughly 184.2 to 174.7 million years ago

Jakapil

Jakapil kaniukura

Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) · roughly 100.5 to 93.9 million years ago