Xuwulong is a type of dinosaur that lived a long time ago during the Early Cretaceous period. This period was about 130 to 113 million years ago, specifically in an area that is now known as the Yujingzi Basin in Gansu Province, northwestern China.
Xuwulong is part of a group of dinosaurs called hadrosauroids, which are often known as duck-billed dinosaurs. The name Xuwulong was given in 2011 by scientists You Hailu, Li Daqing, and Liu Weichang. The full scientific name for this dinosaur is Xuwulong yueluni. It is named in honor of a famous geologist named Professor Wang Yue-lun, who is also known as “Xu-wu”.
The remains of Xuwulong that scientists found include a complete skull and a nearly complete skeleton. This is really valuable because it helps scientists understand what this dinosaur looked like and how it lived.
The history of discovering Xuwulong began with a series of archaeological digs in Gansu Province, starting in the 1930s. Over the years, many scientists have searched for dinosaur bones in the area. The first big discoveries were in the 1980s and continued through the 1990s.
In 2000, paleontologists found some dinosaur fossils in the Yujingzi Basin, which led to more discoveries. In 2006, a notable specimen with a skull and skeleton was found, which later became the basis for naming Xuwulong.
Xuwulong lived during a time when the environment was quite different, and its fossils help scientists learn more about how dinosaurs evolved and thrived. The sediments where Xuwulong was found date back to a specific time period called the upper Aptian.
In summary, Xuwulong is an important dinosaur discovery that helps piece together the puzzle of life during the Early Cretaceous period. It showcases the continuous effort by scientists to learn about the past and understand these fascinating creatures that roamed the Earth millions of years ago.