A new basal hadrosauroid dinosaur (Dinosauria: Ornithopoda) with transitional features from the late cretaceous of Henan Province, China.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Southwestern Henan Province in central China contains many down-faulted basins, including the Xixia Basin where the Upper Cretaceous continental sediments are well exposed. The Majiacun Formation is a major dinosaur-bearing stratigraphic unit that occurs in this basin.

Methodology/principal findings

A new basal hadrosauroid dinosaur, Zhanghenglong yangchengensis gen. et sp. nov., is named based on newly collected specimens from the middle Santonian Majiacun Formation of Zhoujiagou Village, Xixia Basin. Two transitional features between basal hadrosauroids and hadrosaurids are attached to the diagnosis of the new taxon, namely five maxillary foramina consisting of four small scattered ones anteroposteriorly arranged in a row and a large one adjacent to the articula

SUBMITTER: Xing H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4047018 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature