Yueosaurus is a type of dinosaur that lived a long time ago during the Cretaceous period, specifically between the Albian and Cenomanian stages. It was found in Zhejiang Province, China.
Let’s break down what we know about Yueosaurus.
This dinosaur is not just any dinosaur; it belongs to a specific group called basal neornithischians. These dinosaurs are part of the larger ornithischian family, which includes many well-known dinosaurs like Stegosaurus and Triceratops.
Yueosaurus is known from a skeleton called a holotype. This skeleton is quite special because it is well-preserved. It includes parts of its neck, back, tail, shoulder, ribs, hip bones, and some leg bones. This skeleton was collected from a place called the Tiantai locality in China.
Yueosaurus lived during a time when dinosaurs were thriving and represents one of the southernmost types of ornithopods in Asia. It is also the first of its kind discovered in China.
The name “Yueosaurus” comes from the word “Yue,” which is an ancient name for the region of Zhejiang, where it was found. The species name, “tiantaiensis,” refers to Tiantai, the specific area where the discovery was made.
Overall, Yueosaurus helps scientists understand more about the diverse world of dinosaurs and how they lived in ancient times.