Taohelong is a type of dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, about 113 to 110 million years ago. It was discovered in north-central China.
The name “Taohelong” means “dragon of the river Tao.” The specific name is “Taohelong jinchengensis,” which refers to where it was found, near Jincheng city.
Fossils of Taohelong include a tail vertebra, some ribs, a hip bone called the ilium, and bony armor. The armor features a special part known as a “sacral shield,” which is a layer of bony plates over the hips, similar to other dinosaurs in its family.
Taohelong is part of the Nodosauridae family, which is known for armored dinosaurs. In scientific studies, experts found that Taohelong is closely related to another dinosaur called Polacanthus foxii. This makes Taohelong the first of its kind found in Asia.
Some unique features of Taohelong include a tail vertebra with a unique shape and an ilium that looks like a mirrored letter “S.” The bony armor has different shapes and sizes, making it quite interesting.
This discovery was made in 2013 by paleontologists Yang Jing-Tao, You Hai-Lu, Li Da-Qing, and Kong De-Lai. Feel free to explore more about dinosaurs and the fascinating world they lived in!