Sinoceratops
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Sinoceratops (from Sino- ('China') and ancient Greek κέρας kéras 'horn' and ὤψ ōps 'face'; literally also 'Chinese maple face') is a genus of bird basin dinosaurs (Ornithischia) from the group of Ceratopsia . It was only discovered in 2008 in the Wangshi group, a site from the Upper Cretaceous of China, and was first described in 2010. The type species is Sinoceratops zhuchengensis . It is the only ceratopsidefoundoutside of North America to date.
features
Large ceratopsis with at least 10 strong, strongly curved horn-like appendages along the posterior edge of the parietal bone and at least four horn-like appendages on the scaly bone . The holotype's skull has an estimated total length of 180 cm, making it one of the longest Centrosaurinae skulls discovered to date. The muzzle is relatively long at around 70% of the base length of the skull. As usual with ceratopsids, the orbit is small at 15%. The largely preserved nasal horn is about 30 cm high and 25 cm long at the base. To the side in front of it there is a clear and slightly to the side in front of it a less clear hump.
Finds
The Holotype Zhucheng Dinosaur Museum (ZCDM) V0010 includes parts of a skull with most of the elements of the skullcap and part of the brain skull . Parts of two other specimens were discovered at the site near Zangjiazhuang in Zhucheng in the east Chinese province of Shandong . ZCDM V0011 is a part of the skull with an almost complete skullcap and ZCDM V0012 is a part of the brain skull.
Systematics
A cladistic analysis places Sinoceratops in a basal position within the Centrosaurinae. In many characteristics the genus is more similar to the Chasmosaurinae than to other Centrosaurinae. Furthermore, Sinoceratops zhuchengensis shortens the gap between the ceratopsids and other dinosaurs.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e Xu, X., Wang, K., Zhao, X. & Li, D .: First ceratopsid dinosaur from China and its biogeographical implications . In: Chinese Science Bulletin . 55, No. 16, 2010, pp. 1631-1635. doi : 10.1007 / s11434-009-3614-5 .
