About Yangchuanosaurus
| Scientific Name (Genus) | Yangchuanosaurus |
| Meaning of Name | Yongchuan lizard Yangchuan (place name) - saurus (lizard) [Greek] |
| Classification | Saurischia, Theropoda (Allosauroidea, Metriacanthosauridae) |
| Total Length | Approx. 8m |
| Diet | Carnivorous |
| Period | Mid-Jurassic (approx. 168-163.5 million years ago) |
| Species | Yangchuanosaurus shangyouensis Yangchuanosaurus magnus |
| Year of Paper Publication | 1978 |
| Genus Name Publication | A new carnosaur from Yongchuan County, Sichuan Province. Ke Xue Tong Bao. 23. by Dong Zhiming & Zhang Yihong, Li Xuanmin, and Zhou Shiwu. 1978. |
Characteristics: The Apex Predator of Jurassic China
Yangchuanosaurus was a large carnivorous dinosaur that lived in Sichuan Province, China, from the Middle to Late Jurassic period (approximately 168 to 163.5 million years ago). Several well-preserved complete skeletons have been found, revealing that it reigned as the apex predator of the Asian ecosystem at the time.
Head Ornaments
The skull of Yangchuanosaurus featured a rugged, low crest on its snout and a pair of small horns in front of its eyes (lacrimal horns), very similar to those of Allosaurus. These ornaments are thought to have been used for display, to identify members of its own species, or to attract mates.
Ruler of a "Dinosaur Paradise"
The geological formation in Sichuan Province where Yangchuanosaurus fossils were found (the Dashanpu Formation) was a "dinosaur paradise" of its time, inhabited by a very diverse range of dinosaurs. Yangchuanosaurus likely preyed on dinosaurs such as:
- Stegosaurs: Tuojiangosaurus, Chungkingosaurus
- Sauropods: Shunosaurus, Mamenchisaurus, Omeisaurus
A giant species (Y. magnus), reaching over 10 meters in length, has also been discovered, indicating the significant role it played in the ecosystem of its time.
Yangchuanosaurus Stamp & Fossil Gallery
