Shidaisaurus in Yunnan

Shidaisaurus is a genus of metriacanthosaurid dinosaur. Its fossil was found in early Middle Jurassic-age rocks of the Upper Lufeng Formation in Yunnan, China. It is known from a partial skeleton, holotype DML-LCA 9701-IV, found at the bottom of an assemblage of nine dinosaur individuals, lacking most of the tail vertebrae, ribs, pectoral girdle, and limb bones. Shidaisaurus was described in 2009 by Wu and colleagues. The type species is S. jinae. Generic name and specific name in combination refer to the Jin-Shidai (“Golden Age”) Company that exploits the Jurassic World Park near the site. This theropod was about 6 metres (20 ft) long and it weighed around 700 kilograms (1,500 lb).

Discovery and Location:
Shidaisaurus is a genus of early sauropodomorph dinosaur discovered in Yunnan Province, southwestern China. It was found in the Lower Jurassic Lufeng Formation, which dates back approximately 200-190 million years ago.

Taxonomy:
Shidaisaurus belongs to the group of basal sauropodomorphs, which are early members of the sauropodomorph lineage that includes giant sauropods like Diplodocus and Brachiosaurus.

Description:
The exact size and appearance of Shidaisaurus are inferred based on related dinosaurs. As a basal sauropodomorph, it likely had a small body compared to later sauropods, bipedal stance, and herbivorous diet. Its skeletal structure would have featured adaptations for terrestrial locomotion, typical of early dinosaurs.

Paleoenvironment:
During the Early Jurassic, Yunnan Province was characterized by a warm and humid climate with diverse flora and fauna. Shidaisaurus inhabited this region alongside other dinosaurs and early mammals, contributing to the ecosystem dynamics of the time.

Significance:
Shidaisaurus is significant in understanding the early evolution of sauropodomorph dinosaurs, shedding light on their distribution and diversity during the Jurassic period in Asia. Its discovery in Yunnan adds to the growing knowledge of dinosaurian fauna in southern China.