**Wulatelong: A Unique Dinosaur**
Wulatelong is an extinct type of dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, around 83.6 to 72.1 million years ago.
Fossils of Wulatelong were found in Inner Mongolia, China, specifically in the Wulansuhai Formation. The discovery happened in 2009, and it included a nearly complete skeleton.
**Name Origin**
The name Wulatelong comes from two parts. “Wulate” is where the fossils were discovered. “Long” means dragon in Chinese. Its specific name is Wulatelong gobiensis, which refers to the nearby Gobi Desert.
**What is Wulatelong?**
Wulatelong is classified in a family of dinosaurs called Oviraptoridae, which are known for their bird-like features.
These dinosaurs had parrot-like beaks without teeth, which helped them eat plants and small animals. Wulatelong was closely related to another dinosaur called Banji.
**Where Did Wulatelong Live?**
Wulatelong lived in a diverse environment where it shared its habitat with other dinosaurs like:
– Protoceratops: A plant-eating dinosaur with a bony frill.
– Pinacosaurus: An armored dinosaur.
– Velociraptor: A small, fast predator.
The area was rich in different types of dinosaurs, suggesting it was a lively ecosystem.
**Conclusion**
Wulatelong is an important dinosaur for understanding the variety of prehistoric life in ancient China. Its unique features and the environment it lived in provide insights into the evolution of dinosaurs during the Late Cretaceous period.