Fun Shenzhousaurus Facts For Kids

The Shenzhousaurus dinosaur is believed to have resided in what is now known as China. The implications from the fossils of this classification of the dinosaur indicate that they belong to the Lower Cretaceous phase of China. They were said to be ostrich dinosaurs of the earlier days by Kobayashi. Two others named Chongxi Yuan and Shu-An Ji are credited for the naming of this animal. Read on to know more about this dinosaur.

How do you pronounce 'Shenzhousaurus'?

It is pronounced as 'Shen-zoo-sore-us'. It is named so after this dinosaur was named by Chongxi Yuan and Shu-An Ji in 2003.

What type of dinosaur was a Shenzhousaurus?

The Shenzhousaurus belonged to the superfamily of Ornithomimoidea. They were a type of bird and resembled the characteristics of an ostrich. They might have been omnivorous or carnivorous.

In which geological period did the Shenzhousaurus roam the Earth?

Shenzhousaurus could be seen around the period of the Aptian stage of the Cretaceous age in China.

When did the Shenzhousaurus become extinct?

All dinosaurs slowly vanished off the surface of the Earth about 65 million years ago when an asteroid shower hit the planet. However, we do not know when these dinosaurs went extinct.

Where did Shenzhousaurus live?

The Shenzhousaurus lived in China. In particular, their fossils were found in the Yixian Formation. This Yixian Formation was at Beipiao, in the Sihetun fossil site. Apart from the Yixian Formation, their fossils were also found in the Liaoning Province.

What was the Shenzhousaurus' habitat?

The habitat of this classification of the Shenzhousaurus genus is comprised of fluvial beds.

Who did the Shenzhousaurus live with?

It is not known whether the Shenzhousaurus were solitary animals or group members.

How long did a Shenzhousaurus live?

Although the lifespan of this genus is not known, most dinosaurs had a lifespan of 70-80 years.

How did they reproduce?

Like all dinosaurs, the Shenzhousaurus is also reproduced by laying eggs.

What did the Shenzhousaurus look like?

All implications regarding the physical appearance of this animal were derived from the specimen of its fossils. This specimen included a partial skeleton. This partial skeleton is comprised of a head and some parts above the torso. Tail and limbs were missing from the specimen of the partial skeleton. A holotype skull with pebbles in the chest was found. This implied that there might have been stones in this area. There were teeth present in the lower jaw.

How many bones did a Shenzhousaurus have?

Dinosaurs, by nature, generally had 200 bones in their body. The specifics for the Shenzhousaurus are not known.

How did they communicate?

All dinosaurs communicated by sending out calls to others. These calls could be either love calls for mating or even warning sounds. Other than this, research says they also communicated via gestures, smell, and sight.

How big was the Shenzhousaurus?

The Shenzhousaurus measured about 6.6 ft (2 m) long. This is about the same size as a tiger.

How fast could a Shenzhousaurus move?

Dinosaurs could run at a speed of 23-55 mph (37-88.5 kph). The speed of a Shenzhousaurus specifically remains unknown.

How much did a Shenzhousaurus weigh?

Even though the weight of a Shenzhousaurus has not been recorded, it is perceived to be as much as a sheep which is 99-352 lb (45-159.6 kg).

What were the male and female names of the species?

There weren't any specified names for the male and female of the species.

What would you call a baby Shenzhousaurus?

Baby dinosaurs are called hatchlings or nestlings.

How aggressive were they?

These dinosaurs can be assumed to be aggressive in nature since they used to prey on other animals.

Did You Know…

The name given to this animal by Chongxi Yuan and Shu-An Ji has a specific meaning. Shenzhou was used to imply China or Greek in ancient times. 'Saurus' was used for meaning' lizard'.

This animal was described for the first time by Keqin Gao along with others. The pictures of the specimen were taken by Steve Brusatte, who was a research collaborator.

*We've been unable to source an image of Shenzhousaurus and have used an image of Deinonychus instead. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of Shenzhousaurus, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at [email protected]

*We've been unable to source an image of Shenzhousaurus and have used an image of Styracosaurus instead. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of Shenzhousaurus, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at [email protected]