STL Science Center

STL Science Center

09 May 2012

Species Rundown

If I go according to Greg Paul on this list there will be a lot of quotation marks and questioning of the genus. I do not recall reading in his newest book, The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs, where he feels they belong, but I do remember a lot of quotation marks, which he was using to signify what he thought may be dubious specific or generic names. I know there's a theory in there somewhere. Regardless, at the moment the generally accepted viewpoint is that Mamenchisaurus is a valid genus and its holotype is M. constructus which was found at a construction site for a Chinese highway and consists of a very small amount of skeletal material which does not include the skull. Wikipedia gives a nice rundown of the species and where or how they were found which, today, because I am short on time, I am going to pilfer, with acknowledgement:
  • M. anyuensis He, Yang, Cai, Li & Liu, 1996. Approximately 21 meters (69 ft) in length. Known from both the Suining Formation and Penglaizhen Formation.
  • Young, 1954: (Type species) The holotype specimen, represented by a partial skeleton and was 13 m (43 ft) long.
  •  ?M. fuxiensis Hou, Zhao & Chu, 1976: Partial skeleton, include parts of a skull. It was originally named Zigongosaurus, and may be a different genus.
  • M. hochuanensis Young & Zhao, 1972: Four partial skeletons. Known from Shaximiao Formation and 22 m (72 ft) in length.
  • M. jingyanensis Zhang, Li & Zeng, 1998. Known from Shaximiao Formation and estimated between 20 to 26 metres (66 to 85 ft) in length.
  • M. sinocanadorum D. Russell & Zheng, 1994: Partial skull, isolated bones. Known from the upper part of the Shishugou Formation (about 160 Ma ago), it may have been the largest, estimated up to 26 meters (85 ft) in length.
  • M. youngi Pi, Ouyang & Ye, 1996: Mamenchisaurus youngi (pronunciation YOUNG-eye) was unearthed in Xinmin County, Zigong City in Sichuan Province, China, in 1989. The species was named in honour of Young. It was a very complete and articulated specimen presvering all the vertebra from the head up until the 8th tail vertebra. It had 18 neck vertebra. At 16 meters (52 ft) long with a 6.5-meter (21 ft) neck, is relatively small among various species of Mamenchisaurus.

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