New armored dinosaur species discovered in China’s Henan province

A recent paleontological breakthrough has shed new light on the evolutionary history of armored dinosaurs. Scientists have unearthed a previously unknown species of ankylosaur, Zhongyuansaurus junchangi, from the Early Cretaceous Haoling Formation in Henan Province, China.

The discovery, published in Acta Palaeontologica Sinica, adds to the growing body of knowledge about the diversity and development of these heavily-armored, herbivorous dinosaurs, Caliber.Az reports,citing Indian media.

The new species is particularly significant for what it reveals about the variety of ankylosaurs that once roamed the Ruyang Basin—an area already known for its rich fossil record. With the identification of Zhongyuansaurus junchangi, researchers now have a clearer picture of the region’s prehistoric fauna.

According to Dr. Ji-ming Zhang from the Henan Natural History Museum, the fossil remains were found in a compact area measuring approximately nine square meters. “The fossils are preserved within an area of about 9 m²,” said Dr. Zhang and his colleagues. The bones were disarticulated—scattered rather than connected—leading researchers to believe the remains belonged to a single individual. This allowed for detailed anatomical study.

The fossil find is unusually comprehensive. Paleontologists recovered a right mandible, 14 free caudal vertebrae, seven fused terminal caudal vertebrae that form a rod-like tail structure, four ribs, 10 haemal arches, a left humerus, and a metatarsal bone. Most notable, however, are 41 osteoderms—bony armor plates of varying shapes and sizes—revealing critical insights into the dinosaur’s defence mechanisms.

“One of the most distinctive features of Zhongyuansaurus junchangi is its tail armor,” the study notes. The tail includes at least five caudal armor plates arranged in a shingle-like pattern, forming what researchers describe as a “distinctive swallowtail shape.” This anatomical trait suggests a unique method of defense and marks a new stage in the evolution of ankylosaurid armor.

The jaw structure of Zhongyuansaurus also sets it apart from other ankylosaurs. “Additionally, it exhibits relatively slender mandibular bones compared to the more robust mandibles of advanced Ankylosaurinae,” the researchers noted. They also observed that “the anterior tip of the coronoid process extends only to the last two alveoli, differing from Shamosaurus,” another species within the group. These details highlight evolutionary variation within the ankylosaur family.

The researchers believe this discovery provides crucial evidence of ankylosaur development during the Lower Cretaceous period. “The discovery of Zhongyuansaurus junchangi provides new insights into the evolution of ankylosaurs in the Lower Cretaceous strata of Ruyang and enhances the species diversity of the Ruyang dinosaur fauna,” they concluded.

As the fossil record of the Ruyang Basin continues to expand, each new discovery like Zhongyuansaurus junchangi brings scientists closer to understanding the complex ecosystems and evolutionary paths of Earth’s prehistoric past.

By Vugar Khalilov