[Explanation] Recently, a new herbivorous genus and new species of dinosaur from Chongqing, China, Bashanosaurus, came out.
Relevant research shows that it is the oldest Stegosaurus in Asia at present, adding new evidence for the origin of Stegosaurus in China.
[Explanation] The Yuanshi Bashanosaurus fossils come from the original fossil wall of the lower part of the Shaximiao Formation, which has been excavated by the Yunyang dinosaur fauna in Chongqing.
After the discovery of the Yuanshi Bashanosaurus fossil, the researchers compared each of its bones with all Stegosaurus in the world. The results showed that its morphological characteristics were significantly different from other Stegosaurus, so it was designated as a new genus.
[Concurrent] Dai Hui, senior engineer at 208 Geological Heritage Protection Research Institute of Chongqing Geological Exploration Bureau
It was found that its sword plate, that is, the long sword plate on its back, must be the most obvious feature of the skeleton of Stegosaurus.
At that time, we noticed that it was the fossil of Stegosaurus.
The stratigraphic age where the fossil wall is located is of the Middle Jurassic, which is the time of the origin of Stegosaurus.
At present, the earliest Stegosaurus appeared in the Middle Jurassic.
So we stepped up the research work at that time.
[Explanation] Research shows that the Yuanshi Bashanosaurus lived 169 million years ago and is one of the four oldest stegosaurus species in the world.
It is 10 million years earlier than the oldest stegosaurus in Asia, Taibai Huayanglong.
[Concurrent] Dai Hui, senior engineer at 208 Geological Heritage Protection Research Institute of Chongqing Geological Exploration Bureau
It has unique characteristics that distinguish it from other Stegosaurus, so that we can name it a new genus and species.
Also, its era is older than other Stegosaurus.
[Explanation] It is understood that Stegosaurus fossils were first discovered in the United Kingdom in 1874, and are mainly distributed in the United States, the United Kingdom, Portugal, South Africa, Argentina, China and other countries.
The discovery of Bashanosaurus in Yuanshi provides new evidence for the origin of Stegosaurus in China, both in terms of the number of Stegosaurus species and the degree of ancient times.
[Concurrent] Dai Hui, senior engineer at 208 Geological Heritage Protection Research Institute of Chongqing Geological Exploration Bureau
It can be said that we have found some new evidence for the origin of Stegosaurus, and it can also be said that there are two most primitive and oldest Stegosaurus in our country.
One is the Taibai Huayang Dragon in our Zigong, and the other is the Yuanshi Bashan Dragon that we found in Yunyang now.
Therefore, there is a theory in the academic circles, which can further support the theory that Stegosaurus originated in Asia, or even in China, and provides more evidence.
Reported by Jia Nan and Lai Zhenjing in Chongqing
Responsible editor: [Ye Pan]