| rdfs:comment | - Tianyulong (named for the Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature where the holotype fossil (STMN 26-3) is housed) is a genus of basal heterodontosaurid ornithischian dinosaur. The fossil represents a sub-adult individual, approximately 1 meter long. It is notable for the row of long, filamentous integumentary structures apparent on the back, tail and neck of the fossil. The similarity of these structures with those found on some derived theropods suggests their homology with feathers and raises the possibility that the earliest dinosaurs and their ancestors were covered with analogous dermal filamentous structures that can be considered as primitive feathers (proto-feathers). The only species is T. confuciusi, whose remains were discovered in Jianchang County, Western Liaoning Province, China, f
- Toanyulong has a row of long, filamentous integumentary structures on the back, tail and neck of the specimen. The similarity of these structures with those found on some theropods suggests their homology with feathers and raises the possibility that the earliest dinosaurs and their ancestors were covered with homologous dermal filamentous structures that can be considered primitive feathers ("proto-feathers").
- Location: Western Liaoning Province, China Age: debated, sometime during the latest Jurassic to earliest Cretaceous, possibly between 144-140 million years ago Tianyulong belongs to a group of early ornithischian dinosaurs called heterodontosaurids, a group problematic to classify (as it is often classified with ornithopods or a stem group of ornithischians) and long have been known from Early Jurassic species in Africa. This means that Tianyulong is not only the youngest known heterodontosaur, but it is also the only known heterodontosaur in Asia. The skeleton shows strange filament-like features along parts of its body, largest around its back and tail. These structures resemble the primitive feathers seen on some theropod dinosaurs, making Tianyulong the first known ornithischian with f
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| abstract | - Toanyulong has a row of long, filamentous integumentary structures on the back, tail and neck of the specimen. The similarity of these structures with those found on some theropods suggests their homology with feathers and raises the possibility that the earliest dinosaurs and their ancestors were covered with homologous dermal filamentous structures that can be considered primitive feathers ("proto-feathers"). The holotype consists of an incomplete skeleton preserving a partial skull and mandible, partial presacral vertebrae, proximal–middle caudal vertebrae, nearly complete right scapula, both humeri, the proximal end of the left ulna, partial pubes, both ischia, both femora, the right tibia and fibula and pes, as well as remains of long, singular and unbranched filamentous integumentary structures. The holotype is from a subadult individual that probably measured 70 cm in length based on the proportions of the related South African species Heterodontosaurus tucki.
- Location: Western Liaoning Province, China Age: debated, sometime during the latest Jurassic to earliest Cretaceous, possibly between 144-140 million years ago Tianyulong belongs to a group of early ornithischian dinosaurs called heterodontosaurids, a group problematic to classify (as it is often classified with ornithopods or a stem group of ornithischians) and long have been known from Early Jurassic species in Africa. This means that Tianyulong is not only the youngest known heterodontosaur, but it is also the only known heterodontosaur in Asia. The skeleton shows strange filament-like features along parts of its body, largest around its back and tail. These structures resemble the primitive feathers seen on some theropod dinosaurs, making Tianyulong the first known ornithischian with feathers. Still, it verifies another theory. In the Yixian Formation, preserved skeletons of Psittacosaurus show long bristles on its tail. Many scientists argue that these were modified feathers. The discovery of a feathered ornithischian provides some evidence for this idea. Resource:
- Tianyulong (named for the Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature where the holotype fossil (STMN 26-3) is housed) is a genus of basal heterodontosaurid ornithischian dinosaur. The fossil represents a sub-adult individual, approximately 1 meter long. It is notable for the row of long, filamentous integumentary structures apparent on the back, tail and neck of the fossil. The similarity of these structures with those found on some derived theropods suggests their homology with feathers and raises the possibility that the earliest dinosaurs and their ancestors were covered with analogous dermal filamentous structures that can be considered as primitive feathers (proto-feathers). The only species is T. confuciusi, whose remains were discovered in Jianchang County, Western Liaoning Province, China, from a formation belonging to the Jehol group and dating from the Berriasian stage of the Early Cretaceous. The holotype consists of an incomplete skeleton preserving a partial skull and mandible, partial presacral vertebrae, proximal–middle caudal vertebrae, nearly complete right scapula, both humeri, the proximal end of the left ulna, partial pubes, both ischia, both femora, the right tibia and fibula and pes, as well as remains of long, singular and unbranched filamentous integumentary structures. The holotype is from a subadult individual that probably measured 70 cm in length based on the proportions of the South African related genus Heterodontosaurus.
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