The fossil, holotypeXMDFEC V0011, was found in the Majiacun Formation in Henan Province, China. The fossil consists of a partial skeleton, without the skull. Parts of the hind legs, pelvis and spine has also been recovered. Xixianykus is among the oldest of the derived alvarezsauroids, the parvicursorines, dated to the Santonian–Coniacian, as opposed to other parvicursorines, which are either Campanian or Maastrichtian.[2]
The type species is Xixianykus zhangi described in 2010 by Xu Xing. The genus name refers to Xixia County and to the Greek word for claw ("onyx"). The latter is a common element used in names for Alvarezsaurids. The species name is in honor of Zhang Xinglao.
DescriptionEdit
Size comparison
Xixianykus was a small animal, about 50 centimetres (20 in) long and 20 centimetres (7.9 in) high. It is one of the smallest-known dinosaurs (not counting avians). It appears to have many adaptations towards a cursorial (running) lifestyle. It was about 50 centimetres long but had 20-centimetre-long (7.9 in) legs and a short femur combined with a long tibia and metatarsus, which are good indicators of it being a fast runner.[2] It was probably covered in feathers.
ReferencesEdit
^Xu, X., Wang, D.Y., Sullivan, C., Hone, D.W.E., Han, F.L., Yan, R.H. and Du, F.M. (2010). "A basal parvicursorine (Theropoda: Alvarezsauridae) from the Upper Cretaceous of China.". Zootaxa, 2413: 1-19.
^ abHone, D. (2010). Xixianykus zhangi - A New Alvarezsaur Dave Hone's Archosaur Musings, April 23, 2011.
External linksEdit
Wikispecies has information related to Xixianykus.
Agile 'roadrunner' dinosaur fossil discovered in China
xixianykus, genus, alvarezsaurid, theropod, dinosaur, from, late, cretaceous, period, china, temporal, range, late, cretaceous, preꞒ, scientific, classificationdomain, eukaryotakingdom, animaliaphylum, chordataclade, dinosauriaclade, saurischiaclade, theropoda. Xixianykus is a genus of alvarezsaurid theropod dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period of China 1 XixianykusTemporal range Late Cretaceous 83 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClade DinosauriaClade SaurischiaClade TheropodaFamily AlvarezsauridaeGenus XixianykusXu et al 2010Species X zhangiBinomial name Xixianykus zhangiXu et al 2010 Contents 1 Discovery and naming 2 Description 3 References 4 External linksDiscovery and naming EditThe fossil holotype XMDFEC V0011 was found in the Majiacun Formation in Henan Province China The fossil consists of a partial skeleton without the skull Parts of the hind legs pelvis and spine has also been recovered Xixianykus is among the oldest of the derived alvarezsauroids the parvicursorines dated to the Santonian Coniacian as opposed to other parvicursorines which are either Campanian or Maastrichtian 2 The type species is Xixianykus zhangi described in 2010 by Xu Xing The genus name refers to Xixia County and to the Greek word for claw onyx The latter is a common element used in names for Alvarezsaurids The species name is in honor of Zhang Xinglao Description Edit nbsp Size comparisonXixianykus was a small animal about 50 centimetres 20 in long and 20 centimetres 7 9 in high It is one of the smallest known dinosaurs not counting avians It appears to have many adaptations towards a cursorial running lifestyle It was about 50 centimetres long but had 20 centimetre long 7 9 in legs and a short femur combined with a long tibia and metatarsus which are good indicators of it being a fast runner 2 It was probably covered in feathers References Edit Xu X Wang D Y Sullivan C Hone D W E Han F L Yan R H and Du F M 2010 A basal parvicursorine Theropoda Alvarezsauridae from the Upper Cretaceous of China Zootaxa 2413 1 19 a b Hone D 2010 Xixianykus zhangi A New Alvarezsaur Dave Hone s Archosaur Musings April 23 2011 External links Edit nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Xixianykus Agile roadrunner dinosaur fossil discovered in China nbsp Dinosaurs portal nbsp This theropod related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Xixianykus amp oldid 1083591776, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
