Qijianglong Facts
Pronunciation: CHEE-jee-ahng-long
Name meaning: Qijiang Dragon
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 4m |
| Length | 15m |
| Weight | 12 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Jurassic |
| Period | Middle Jurassic |
| Type | Sauropod |
| Location | China |
Qijianglong was a remarkable sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Middle Jurassic period, approximately 161.5 million years ago. This impressive herbivore roamed the ancient landscapes of what is now China, representing one of the fascinating mamenchisaurid sauropods that dominated Asian ecosystems during this time.
Measuring around 15 metres in length and standing about 4 metres tall at the hip, Qijianglong was a substantial dinosaur, though not amongst the largest sauropods. What truly set this sauropod apart was its extraordinarily long neck, which contained remarkably long individual vertebrae. The neck alone made up nearly half of the animal's total body length, allowing it to reach vegetation far above the ground and strip leaves from the tallest available plants.
As a herbivore, Qijianglong fed on the abundant plant life of Middle Jurassic China, including conifers, ferns, and cycads. Its long neck gave it a significant feeding advantage, enabling it to browse at heights other dinosaurs couldn't reach without rearing up on their hind legs. The creature's teeth were designed for stripping vegetation rather than chewing, so it likely swallowed stones to help grind plant material in its stomach.
Qijianglong is known from a partial but informative skeleton that includes cranial bones, most of the neck and tail vertebrae, and other associated elements. This fossil evidence has provided palaeontologists with valuable insights into the anatomy and lifestyle of this distinctive Chinese sauropod.
What made Qijianglong distinctive?
Qijianglong possessed an exceptionally long neck with unusually elongated individual vertebrae, making up nearly half its total body length. Its skull was relatively small compared to its body size, typical of sauropods, with simple peg-like teeth perfect for stripping vegetation.
Behaviour
Qijianglong likely moved in herds across the Middle Jurassic landscape, using its extraordinarily long neck to browse on tall vegetation that other herbivores couldn't reach. It probably spent most of its time feeding, requiring enormous amounts of plant material to sustain its large body.
Discovery
Qijianglong was first described by Tetsuto Miyashita and colleagues in 2015. The original fossils were discovered at Suining Formation, Qijiang District, Chongqing, China.
Qijianglong FAQ
What did Qijianglong eat?
Qijianglong was a herbivore that fed on plants including conifers, ferns, and cycads. Its extremely long neck allowed it to reach vegetation high above the ground that other dinosaurs couldn't access, giving it a significant advantage when browsing for food in the forests of
Middle Jurassic China.
How big was Qijianglong?
Qijianglong measured approximately 15 metres in total length and stood about 4 metres tall at the hip. It weighed an estimated 12 tonnes, making it a substantial dinosaur though not amongst the very largest sauropods ever discovered.
When did Qijianglong live?
Qijianglong lived during the
Middle Jurassic period, approximately 161.5 million years ago. This was a time when the climate was warmer and more humid than today, with lush forests covering much of what is now China.
Where was Qijianglong found?
Qijianglong was discovered in the Suining Formation in Qijiang District, Chongqing, China. The fossil remains were found in rock layers dating to the
Middle Jurassic period, providing valuable insights into Chinese dinosaur diversity during this time.
How do you pronounce Qijianglong?
Qijianglong is pronounced 'CHEE-jee-ahng-long'. The name reflects its discovery location in Qijiang District, China, combined with 'long', the Chinese word for dragon.
What does Qijianglong mean?
Qijianglong means 'Qijiang Dragon', named after the Qijiang District in China where it was discovered. The species name 'guokr' honours Guokr.com, a Chinese science communication website that helped fund the research into this dinosaur.
How fast could Qijianglong run?
The speed of Qijianglong is not well understood, but like other large sauropods, it was likely a slow-moving animal. Its massive size and four-legged stance suggest it moved at a steady walking pace rather than running, focusing on efficient travel between feeding areas.
What type of dinosaur was Qijianglong?
Qijianglong was a sauropod dinosaur, specifically belonging to the family Mamenchisauridae. Sauropods were the long-necked, plant-eating giants of the dinosaur world, and Qijianglong was distinguished by having one of the longest necks relative to its body size.
Was Qijianglong related to birds?
Qijianglong was not closely related to birds. As a sauropod, it belonged to a different major group of dinosaurs than the theropods from which modern birds evolved. However, all dinosaurs, including sauropods like Qijianglong, share common ancestry with birds within the larger dinosaur family tree.
How many Qijianglong fossils have been found?
Qijianglong is known from a single partial skeleton that includes cranial bones, most of the neck and tail vertebrae, and other associated elements. This fossil specimen has provided sufficient material for scientists to understand its basic anatomy and classify it as a new species of mamenchisaurid sauropod.
