new dinosaur papers in Vertebrata PalAsiatica

[Tom Holtz <tholtz@geochange.er.usgs.gov>]

Several new papers on dinosaurs (as well as pterosaurs and Mesozoic
crocodillians) have been published in volumes 31 of the Chinese journal
Vertebrata PalAsiatica (VPA in the biblio refs below).

Here are the highlights of the dino papers (I'll leave the crocs and
pterosaurs for now):
Hu S.J. 1993.  A new Theropoda (Dilophosaurus sinensis sp. nov.) from
Yunnan, China.  VPA 31(1): 65-69.
        Info: Dilophosaurus sinensis Hu S.J. 1993.  Holotype Kunming
Municipal Museum KMV8701.  Locality info: Lower Jurassic; Lower Lufeng
Formation; Xiyang Village, Jinning County, Yunnan Province, PRC.

This is the long awaited "Kunmingsaurus" that was mentioned in Archosaurian
Articulations some years back.  Found in 1987, this new species of
Dilophosaurus was discovered associated with the remains of the prosauropod
Yunnanosaurus.  Its skull is somewhat shorter and deeper than D.
wetherilli, its crests are higher and thicker, and it has a foramen in the
same position as the tetanurine maxillary (=accessory antorbital) fenestra.
Estimated length is 5.5 m.

Zhao X., 1993.  A new mid-Jurassic sauropod (Klamelisaurus gobiensis gen.
et sp. nov.) from Xinjiang, China.
        Info:   Klamelisaurus gobiensis Zhao X. 1993.  Holotype: IVPP
V.9492.  Locality info: Middle Jurassic; Wucaiwan Formation; Xinjiang, PRC.
Klamelisaurus is a new long-necked sauropod from the Middle Jurassic.  Zhao
classifies it as the type genus of the new subfamily Klamelisaurinae, which
he places in the Brachiosauridae (using that term in a VERY broad sense, as
he also includes the subfamilies Cetiosaurinae, Brachiosaurinae,
Camarasaurinae, and Euhelopodinae).  It is from the same formation as the
theropod Monolophosaurus.

Russell, D.A., D.E. Russell, and A.R. Sweet.  1993.  The end of the
dinosaurian era in the Nanxiong Basin.  VPA 31(2): 139-145.
Russell et al. describe the magnetostratigraphy of the the
Cretaceous-Tertiary transition sediments in Nanxiong Basin.  The Pingling
Formation is confidently dated (on magnetic and radiometric data) as from
the late Maastrichtian, so the rare dinosaur fossils in it (incl. small
theropods, tyrannosaurids, therizinosaurids, dicraeosaurids, small
ornithopods, and hadrosaurs) are the youngest known dinosaurian skeletal
remains in Asia.  They also note that there are zones of trace element
enrichment in which dino eggs show micropathologies, but these do not seem
to be associated with the K-T event, as they come and go throughout the
section.

Hou L. and Zhang J.Y.  1993.  A new fossil bird from the Lower Cretaceous
of Liaoning.  VPA 31(3): 217-224.
        Info: Chaoyangia beishanensis Hou L. and Zhang J.Y. 1993.
Holotype: IVPP V.9934.  Locality info: Lower Cretaceous; Jiufontang
Formation; Chaoyang, Liaoning Province, PRC.
Yet another primitive bird from the Formation which has also produced
Sinornis and Cathayornis.  No skull or forelimb on the specimen, but most
everything else.  Of note - it has nice uncinate processes.

Dong Z.M. 1993.  An ankylosaur (ornithischian dinosaur) from the Middle
Jurassic of the Junggar Basin, China.  VPA 31(4): 257-266.
        Info: Tianchiasaurus nedegoapeferima Dong Z.M. 1993.  Holotype:
IVPP V. 10614.  Locality info: Middle Jurassic; Toutunhe Formation;
Sangonghe Valley, Fukang County, Xinjang, PRC.
This is the anklyosaur that has been called "Jurassosaurus" in the popular
press.  Its trivial nomen honors the cast of Jurassic Park (Sam NEill, Jeff
GOldblum, Richard Attenborough, Bob PEck, Martin FErraro, Ariana RIchards,
and Joey MAzello).  More interesting to paleontologists, this is by far the
oldest member of the Ankylosauridae (it does have a small, flat, bony tail
club, which is unfortunately not illustrated).  Where this new species
really fits in to the ever-changing scheme of thyreophoran systematics has
yet to be seen.

Gao Y.  1993.  A new species of Szechuanosaurus from the Middle Jurassic of
Dashanpu, Zigong, Sichuan.  VPA 31(4): 308-314.
        Info: Szechuanosaurus zigongensis Gao Y. 1993.  Holotype: Zigong
Dinosaur Museum ZDM9011.  Locality info: the Middle Jurassic Dashanpu
Quarry, Zigong, Sichuan Province, PRC.
The systematics of the genus Szechuanosaurus are uncertain (at best), since
the type is an isolated tooth.  I don't know if this new species can
confidently be associated with the younger species of Szechuanosaurus.  S.
zigongensis has four metacarpals (like Sinraptor) and a very pronounced
deltapectoral crest.

That's it for now.

                                
Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.                                   
tholtz@geochange.er.usgs.gov
Vertebrate Paleontologist in Exile                  Phone:      703-648-5280
U.S. Geological Survey                                FAX:      703-648-5420
Branch of Paleontology & Stratigraphy
MS 970 National Center
Reston, VA  22092
U.S.A.