New dinosaur species found in China bridges key gap in evolution of colossal plant-eaters

Scientists have identified a new species of dinosaur that lived 190 million years ago in what is now China, filling a major gap in our evolutionary understanding of the long-necked giant.

Xiangyunloong fengming measured 9 to 10 m long, making it one of the largest herbivorous dinosaurs known in China. It lived at the beginning of the Jurassic, between 201 and 174 million years ago, a pivotal period of evolution, witnessing the rise and diversification of long-necked herbivorous dinosaurs.

The genus name is an amalgamation of Xiangyun, the county where the specimen was found, and very long time for the traditional “Chinese dragon”. The name of the species, Fengming, meaning phoenix song, reminds us that birds are living dinosaurs. This also echoes Lumingthe town where the fossil was found.

“Moreover, Fengming was the original name of Lin Fengmian, the artistic master and founding president of the Chinese Academy of Arts, whose staff participated extensively in this project,” the researchers wrote in a study published in the journal. Royal Society Open Science.

Researchers identified the new species from fragments of cervical, pelvic, vertebral and hip bones found at a fossil site in the Fengjiahe Formation in southwest China’s Yunnan Province.

They noticed that Xiangyunloong distinguished itself from other long-necked sauropod dinosaurs by a unique combination of features. “Xiangyunloong presents significant morphological distinctions compared to Xingxiulong and other early-diverging sauropodomorphs, supporting its designation as a new genus,” they wrote.

It had a larger body, shorter neck, and elongated tail compared to similar dinosaurs, indicating an initial stage of gigantism characteristic of these species, as well as the potential ability to walk on two legs.

These features, the researchers say, could represent an alternative evolutionary pathway to the neck elongation seen in many of its relatives.

“This provides additional evidence for the diverse adaptive strategies employed by these dinosaurs before the dominance of gigantic, long-necked sauropods,” they argued. “The discovery of Xiangyunloong significantly enriches the morphological and ecological diversity of early-diverging sauropodomorphs in southwest China.