Sinankylosaurus is a type of dinosaur that lived a long time ago, during the Late Cretaceous period, around 77 million to 73 million years ago.
The name Sinankylosaurus means “Chinese fused lizard.” It was first discovered in China, specifically in the Shandong Province, in an area called the Hongtuya Formation.
Sinankylosaurus is different from many other dinosaurs because it is classified as dubious. This means that scientists are not entirely sure about its exact place in the dinosaur family tree. It was thought to belong to a group called ankylosaurs, which are known for their armor-like bodies.
The only known species of Sinankylosaurus is called Sinankylosaurus zhuchengensis. We know this dinosaur from a fossil of a nearly complete part of its hip bone.
In 2021, some scientists looked more closely at Sinankylosaurus and questioned whether it truly belongs with the ankylosaurs. They said it could be a “nomen dubium,” which means it might not have clear features connecting it to well-known dinosaur families.
Sinankylosaurus was found in the same area as many other dinosaurs. For example, it lived alongside creatures like Ischioceratops, Sinoceratops, and Shantungosaurus. These dinosaurs were very different from each other, including some that had shields and horns, like ceratopsians, and others that were huge and made for eating plants, like hadrosaurs.
So, while we know a little about Sinankylosaurus, we have much more to learn about it and how it fits into the world of dinosaurs!