Sinusonasus is an extinct type of dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, about 125 million years ago. This dinosaur was found in what is now Liaoning Province in China, specifically in the Yixian Formation.
Sinusonasus belongs to a group of dinosaurs called theropods, and more specifically, it is part of the troodontid family. The type species of Sinusonasus is called Sinusonasus magnodens. It was first described by scientists Xu Xing and Wang Xiaolin in 2004.
The name “Sinusonasus” comes from two Latin words: “sinus,” meaning wave, and “nasus,” meaning nose. This name refers to the wavy shape of its nasal bones when viewed from the side. The specific name “magnodens” means “big-toothed,” indicating that this dinosaur had large teeth.
The main fossil of Sinusonasus, known as the holotype, includes parts of the skull, jaw, tail, pelvis, and hind legs. This fossil was found in good condition but is slightly flattened. It is about one meter long and weighed around 2.5 kilograms, about the size of a small dog.
Sinusonasus had several unique features. For example:
– Its skull lacks a channel that connects certain openings in the bones.
– The nasal bone has a wavy look.
– It had very large teeth, particularly in the middle of its jaw.
– The bones of the tail were so long that they joined up, forming a continuous plate underneath.
– The thighbone was relatively long, suggesting it could run very well.
Sinusonasus had a short head compared to its thighbone and had at least 19 teeth on each side of its jaw. Its front teeth were not serrated, while the back ones had tiny tooth-like projections. It also had a long lower leg, which helped it run quickly, and its foot structure allowed for a unique walking style with a special claw on its second toe.
In summary, Sinusonasus was a small, agile dinosaur that lived millions of years ago in what is now China. Its unique features and adaptations suggest that it was well-suited for its environment.