Zhenyuanlong

Say it like this: “jen-HWAHN-long”

Zhenyuanlong suni

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

Quiz me on Zhenyuanlong

When: Early Cretaceous (Barremian) · roughly 125.8 to 121.4 million years ago
Named in: 2015 · Lü, J.; Brusatte, S. L.
Hip height: Not established
Length: 2 m · 7 ft
Weight: 20 kg · 44 lb
Found in: China · Yixian
Food and walking: Carnivore · Two legs
Kind: sharp-clawed runner · Theropod
Family branch: Dromaeosauridae

The story in short

Zhenyuanlong was formally named in 2015 by J. Lü and S. L. Brusatte. The name honors a person tied to the fossil or its study.

Fossils referred to Zhenyuanlong date to the Early Cretaceous (Barremian), roughly 125.8 to 121.4 million years ago. Finds come from China, including the Yixian Formation. It was a carnivore and walked on two legs.

Published estimates put Zhenyuanlong at a length near 2 m and a body mass around 20 kg.

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

Close relatives

Asiamericana

Asiamericana asiatica

Late Cretaceous (Turonian · Coniacian) · roughly 93.9 to 85.7 million years ago

Balaur

Balaur bondoc

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

Dakotaraptor

Dakotaraptor steini

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