Xuwulong Facts
Pronunciation: SHOO-woo-long
Name meaning: Named after Professor Wang Yue-lun, with 'Xu-wu' being his courtesy name
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 2m |
| Length | 6m |
| Weight | 1.5 tonnes |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Early Cretaceous |
| Type | Ornithopod |
| Location | China |
Xuwulong was a fascinating ornithopod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 121.4 million years ago, in what is now northwestern China. This herbivorous dinosaur represents an important early member of the hadrosauroid group, which would later evolve into the famous duck-billed dinosaurs of the Late Cretaceous period.
Measuring around 6 metres in length and standing roughly 2 metres tall at the hip, Xuwulong was a substantial plant-eater that likely weighed about 1.5 tonnes. As an ornithopod, it possessed the characteristic beak-like structure at the front of its jaws, perfect for cropping vegetation, along with rows of grinding teeth further back in its mouth for processing tough plant material. The dinosaur was probably capable of moving on both two and four legs, switching between bipedal and quadrupedal locomotion as needed.
What makes Xuwulong particularly significant is its excellent preservation. The single known specimen includes a complete skull, nearly complete backbone, and a complete left pelvic girdle, making it one of the most complete early hadrosauroid skeletons ever discovered. This remarkable fossil was found in the Xinminbao Group of the Yujingzi Basin in Gansu Province, providing valuable insights into the early evolution of duck-billed dinosaurs.
Living in the lush, warm environments of Early Cretaceous China, Xuwulong would have shared its habitat with various other dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures, feeding on ferns, conifers, and early flowering plants that were beginning to diversify during this period.
What made Xuwulong distinctive?
Xuwulong possessed the characteristic beak-like front of the skull typical of ornithopods, along with rows of grinding teeth for processing plant material. Its robust build and well-developed pelvic girdle suggest it was a substantial, ground-dwelling herbivore capable of both bipedal and quadrupedal movement.
Behaviour
As a herbivorous ornithopod, Xuwulong likely spent much of its time foraging for plants, using its beak to crop vegetation and its grinding teeth to process tough plant fibres. It probably moved in small groups across the Early Cretaceous landscapes of China, switching between walking on two legs for speed and four legs for stability whilst feeding.
Discovery
Xuwulong was first described by You Hailu, Li Daqing, and Liu Weichang in 2011. The original fossils were discovered at Xinminbao Group, Yujingzi Basin, Gansu Province, China.
Xuwulong FAQ
What did Xuwulong eat?
Xuwulong was a herbivore that fed on the plants available in
Early Cretaceous China, including ferns, conifers, and possibly some of the earliest flowering plants. It used its beak-like front teeth to crop vegetation and rows of grinding teeth to process tough plant material.
How big was Xuwulong?
Xuwulong was approximately 6 metres long and stood about 2 metres tall at the hip. It weighed an estimated 1.5 tonnes, making it a substantial but not gigantic dinosaur compared to later duck-billed species.
When did Xuwulong live?
Xuwulong lived during the
Early Cretaceous period, specifically around 121.4 million years ago. This was much earlier than the famous duck-billed dinosaurs, making Xuwulong an important early member of their evolutionary lineage.
Where was Xuwulong found?
Xuwulong was discovered in the Xinminbao Group rocks of the Yujingzi Basin, located in Gansu Province in northwestern China. This region has proven rich in
Early Cretaceous dinosaur fossils.
How do you pronounce Xuwulong?
Xuwulong is pronounced 'SHOO-woo-long'. The name combines Chinese elements, with 'Xu-wu' being a courtesy name and 'long' meaning dragon in Chinese.
What does Xuwulong mean?
Xuwulong was named to honour Professor Wang Yue-lun, with 'Xu-wu' being his traditional Chinese courtesy name. The full binomial name Xuwulong yueluni refers directly to the professor's contributions to palaeontology.
How fast could Xuwulong run?
The running speed of Xuwulong is not well established, as speed estimates for dinosaurs are notoriously difficult to calculate. As a large ornithopod capable of bipedal movement, it could probably move at a reasonable pace when needed, but likely spent most of its time moving slowly whilst foraging.
What type of dinosaur was Xuwulong?
Xuwulong was an ornithopod dinosaur, specifically an early member of the hadrosauroid group. This makes it an early relative of the famous duck-billed dinosaurs that would evolve later in the Cretaceous period.
Was Xuwulong related to birds?
As an ornithopod dinosaur, Xuwulong was not closely related to modern birds. Birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs, whilst Xuwulong belonged to the ornithischian group. However, all dinosaurs share a common ancestor, so there is a distant relationship.
How many Xuwulong fossils have been found?
Only one Xuwulong specimen has been discovered so far - the holotype specimen GSGM F00001. Fortunately, this single fossil is remarkably complete, including a full skull, nearly complete backbone, and complete left pelvic girdle, providing excellent information about this early duck-billed dinosaur relative.
