Yunmenglong is a type of dinosaur that lived a long time ago, during the early part of the Cretaceous period, about 125 to 100 million years ago.
The name “Yunmenglong” means “Yunmeng dragon”, named after the area in China where its fossils were found. This dinosaur was discovered in central China’s Henan Province, specifically in a place called the Ruyang Basin.
Yunmenglong belongs to a group called sauropods, which are known for being some of the largest animals to ever walk on Earth. The first species of Yunmenglong, called Yunmenglong ruyangensis, was described by scientists in 2013. They found only part of its skeleton, but it provided enough information to understand its size and characteristics.
Similarities can be found between Yunmenglong and other dinosaurs like Euhelopus, Qiaowanlong, and Erketu. Scientists believe that Yunmenglong is closely related to Qiaowanlong and also has some links to Erketu.
In terms of size, Yunmenglong was gigantic. One of its thigh bones was measured to be about 192 centimeters long, which is quite impressive. Estimates suggest that it could reach lengths of over 20 meters, and in 2020, some even thought it might have been as long as 27 meters. Its weight was also significant, possibly around 30 tonnes.
In summary, the Yunmenglong was a massive dinosaur that roamed ancient China, and it shares many characteristics with other giant dinosaurs.