Paleontologists discover a new species of 39 feet long Dinosaur in China

Paleontologists have unearthed a massive dinosaur in China that measures 39 feet long. This discovery makes a significant addition to the record of early eusauropods. The dinosaur, Huashanosaurus qini, was discovered in the Guangxi region of China. The newly discovered dinosaur is a plant-eater and belongs to a new genus and species of early eusauropod from the Jurassic period.The paleontologists recovered a partial skeleton of this dinosaur from a bed in the lower to middle Jurassic Wangmen Formation (Fm.) from Huqiu Quarry near Mingjiang River, Ningming County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in Southern China. The remains included fossils of the vertebrae, ribs, humerus, ulna, fibula, and foot bones, according to the paper published in the journal Acta Geologica Sinica.Based on the recovered bones, the scientists found that the H. qini was likely about 12 meters, or 39 feet long. They walked on four legs. Upon unearthing the fossil, the researchers realized that they were dealing with a new taxon because the skeleton showed unique features called autapomorphies that set it apart from all other dinosaurs.“The new taxon can be diagnosed by the following autapomorphies: posterior process of the ulna hook-shaped; the cross-section of the proximal part of the ulna crescent-shaped; groove structure present at the posterodistal surface of the fibula,” the authors said in the paper. “Phylogenetic analysis reveals that H. qini is later-diverging than the Middle Jurassic Shunosaurus. Previous work has shown that the Wangmen Fm. is early Early Jurassic in age. In contrast, the new eusauropod discovery indicates that the Wangmen Fm. is probably somewhat younger, Early–Middle Jurassic in age. The find increases the diversity of Jurassic eusauropods in China,” the authors added.The scientists believe that these plant-eating dinosaurs likely lived in forests near rivers and lakeside environments, which were common in the region during that time.Hey also found some bony fish scales and teeth, and incomplete plesiosaurian teeth, at the site. These point towards the humid climate and complex ecosystem at the time.H. qini is likely the oldest sauropod in South China, according to the phylogenetic analysis. They belong to the early to middle Jurassic, and existed between 200 million to 162 million years ago. What makes this discovery even more striking is that it predates previously known sauropod fossils from the region by about 30 million years!Interestingly, this new species is the second eusauropod, which is a group derived from sauropods, found in Guangxi. In 2024, the paleontologists excavated Jingia dongxingensis from the Dongxing Formation and named a new genus. Sauropods are plant-eaters, and their characteristics include long necks, tails, and a small head, with pillar-like legs. The research team had scientists from the Guangxi Museum of Natural History, the Cultural Relics Administration of Ningming County, and the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. “The find increases the diversity of Jurassic eusauropods in China,” the author said.