Wulagasaurus is an extinct type of dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period around 69 to 66 million years ago.
The name Wulagasaurus translates to “Wulaga lizard.” It was discovered in Heilongjiang, a province in China.
Discovery:
Wulagasaurus was first identified in 2008 by scientists led by Pascal Godefroit. Its remains were found in a place called the Yuliangze Formation, which is known for containing a lot of dinosaur fossils.
The main piece of Wulagasaurus found was a part of its lower jaw, but several other bones were also uncovered. These included parts of the upper jaw, shoulder blades, and arm bones.
Wulagasaurus is recognized for its slender jawbone and some unique features in its arm bones that helped scientists understand how it might have moved.
Description:
Experts think Wulagasaurus was about 9 meters long, which is around 30 feet, and weighed about 3 tonnes. Like many hadrosaurids, it was a plant-eater, meaning it fed on leaves and plants.
Classification:
Wulagasaurus belongs to a family of dinosaurs known as hadrosaurids, which are popular for their duck-like bills.
Scientists have studied Wulagasaurus closely and found that it shares many characteristics with other hadrosaurids like Brachylophosaurus and Maiasaura, which come from North America. This suggests that Wulagasaurus might belong to a larger group of dinosaurs within the hadrosaur family.
In summary, Wulagasaurus is an interesting example of a dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous, and its discovery helps us learn more about the types of dinosaurs that lived in Asia at that time.