Huangshanlong Facts
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 4m |
| Length | 15m |
| Weight | 12 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Jurassic |
| Period | Middle Jurassic |
| Type | Sauropod |
| Location | China |

| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 4m |
| Length | 15m |
| Weight | 12 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Jurassic |
| Period | Middle Jurassic |
| Type | Sauropod |
| Location | China |
Huangshanlong was a magnificent sauropod dinosaur that roamed the lush landscapes of what is now China during the Middle Jurassic period, approximately 175 million years ago. This impressive herbivore lived in the Anhui Province region and represents one of only three dinosaur species discovered in this area of China, making it particularly significant for understanding the prehistoric fauna of eastern Asia.
Like other sauropods, Huangshanlong possessed the classic long-necked body plan that made these dinosaurs so successful. Standing roughly 4 metres tall at the hips and stretching about 15 metres from nose to tail, it was a substantial creature that would have weighed around 12 tonnes. Its elongated neck allowed it to reach vegetation at various heights, from ground-level ferns to the crowns of tall coniferous trees that dominated Middle Jurassic forests.
As a plant-eater, Huangshanlong would have spent most of its waking hours feeding, using its pencil-like teeth to strip leaves and soft shoots from plants rather than chewing them. The massive gut of this sauropod contained stones called gastroliths that helped grind up tough plant material, whilst beneficial bacteria aided in breaking down cellulose from the abundant cycads, ferns, and early conifers of its time.
The discovery of Huangshanlong has provided valuable insights into the diversity of sauropod dinosaurs in Middle Jurassic China, helping palaeontologists better understand how these giants spread across ancient Asia and developed their remarkable adaptations for processing vast quantities of plant matter.
Huangshanlong possessed the characteristic extremely long neck and relatively small head typical of its family, along with a robust body supported by four pillar-like legs. Its neck vertebrae show distinctive features that distinguish it from other Chinese sauropods of the same period.
Huangshanlong likely lived in herds for protection against predators, with adults possibly caring for their young. These sauropods would have migrated seasonally following food sources and may have used their long necks to communicate through low-frequency calls that could travel long distances.
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Saurischia |
| Family | Mamenchisauridae |
| Genus | Huangshanlong |
Huangshanlong was first described by Lü Junchang and colleagues in 2014. The original fossils were discovered at Anhui Province, China.