Postcranial osteology of Beipiaosaurus inexpectus (Theropoda: Therizinosauria).
Beipiaosaurus inexpectus, from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation (Sihetun locality, near Beipiao), Liaoning, China, is a key taxon for understanding the early evolution of therizinosaurians. Since initial publication in 1999, only the cranial elements of this taxon have been described in detail....
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2021-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257913 |
| _version_ | 1818400830454235136 |
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| author | Chun-Chi Liao Lindsay E Zanno Shiying Wang Xing Xu |
| author_facet | Chun-Chi Liao Lindsay E Zanno Shiying Wang Xing Xu |
| author_sort | Chun-Chi Liao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Beipiaosaurus inexpectus, from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation (Sihetun locality, near Beipiao), Liaoning, China, is a key taxon for understanding the early evolution of therizinosaurians. Since initial publication in 1999, only the cranial elements of this taxon have been described in detail. Here we present a detailed description of the postcranial skeletal anatomy of the holotype specimen of B. inexpectus, including two never before described dorsal vertebrae from the anterior half of the series. Based on these observations, and comparisons with the postcranial skeleton of therizinosaurian taxa named since the most recent diagnosis, we revised the diagnostic features for B. inexpectus adding three new possible autapomorphies (PII-3 shorter than PIII-4, subequal length of the pre- and postacetabular portions of the ilium, and equidimensional pubic peduncle of ilium). Additionally, we also propose three possible synapomorphies for more inclusive taxa (Therizinosauroidea and Therizinosauridae) and discuss implications for evolutionary trends within Therizinosauria. The newly acquired data from the postcranial osteology of the holotype specimen of B. inexpectus sheds light on our understanding of postcranial skeletal evolution and identification of therizinosaurians. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T07:42:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dfc95263651c4afa81701e924245ab5e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T07:42:48Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-dfc95263651c4afa81701e924245ab5e2022-12-21T23:10:59ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032021-01-01169e025791310.1371/journal.pone.0257913Postcranial osteology of Beipiaosaurus inexpectus (Theropoda: Therizinosauria).Chun-Chi LiaoLindsay E ZannoShiying WangXing XuBeipiaosaurus inexpectus, from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation (Sihetun locality, near Beipiao), Liaoning, China, is a key taxon for understanding the early evolution of therizinosaurians. Since initial publication in 1999, only the cranial elements of this taxon have been described in detail. Here we present a detailed description of the postcranial skeletal anatomy of the holotype specimen of B. inexpectus, including two never before described dorsal vertebrae from the anterior half of the series. Based on these observations, and comparisons with the postcranial skeleton of therizinosaurian taxa named since the most recent diagnosis, we revised the diagnostic features for B. inexpectus adding three new possible autapomorphies (PII-3 shorter than PIII-4, subequal length of the pre- and postacetabular portions of the ilium, and equidimensional pubic peduncle of ilium). Additionally, we also propose three possible synapomorphies for more inclusive taxa (Therizinosauroidea and Therizinosauridae) and discuss implications for evolutionary trends within Therizinosauria. The newly acquired data from the postcranial osteology of the holotype specimen of B. inexpectus sheds light on our understanding of postcranial skeletal evolution and identification of therizinosaurians.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257913 |
| spellingShingle | Chun-Chi Liao Lindsay E Zanno Shiying Wang Xing Xu Postcranial osteology of Beipiaosaurus inexpectus (Theropoda: Therizinosauria). PLoS ONE |
| title | Postcranial osteology of Beipiaosaurus inexpectus (Theropoda: Therizinosauria). |
| title_full | Postcranial osteology of Beipiaosaurus inexpectus (Theropoda: Therizinosauria). |
| title_fullStr | Postcranial osteology of Beipiaosaurus inexpectus (Theropoda: Therizinosauria). |
| title_full_unstemmed | Postcranial osteology of Beipiaosaurus inexpectus (Theropoda: Therizinosauria). |
| title_short | Postcranial osteology of Beipiaosaurus inexpectus (Theropoda: Therizinosauria). |
| title_sort | postcranial osteology of beipiaosaurus inexpectus theropoda therizinosauria |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257913 |
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