Otogosaurus
Encyclopedia
Otogosaurus is a genus
of sauropod dinosaur
. The most notable species in this genus is Otogosaurus sarulai. This species was first described by Chinese scientist Zhao (赵喜进) in 2004. The species is named after Otog, the location of its discovery, and the Sarula, who are the indigenous peoples who live in the area.
In Chinese, Otogosaurus is known as 鄂托克龙. Otogosaurus sarulai is known as 萨茹拉鄂托克龙.
, and speculated to be a plant eater. The length of the dinosaur is about 15 meters. The foot and right hip bone of the dinosaur was found, along with miscellaneous fossil
s. These were dated to about 80 million years of age, placing Otogosaurus in the Cretaceous
Period. Based on the surviving bone structure, it is reasoned to have a strong waist and back, with the hind legs longer than the front legs. The place of habitation of Otogosaurus would have been around a body of water, such as a lake, with vegetation. Fossilized footprints were also discovered with the fossils nearby.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of sauropod dinosaur
Dinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
. The most notable species in this genus is Otogosaurus sarulai. This species was first described by Chinese scientist Zhao (赵喜进) in 2004. The species is named after Otog, the location of its discovery, and the Sarula, who are the indigenous peoples who live in the area.
In Chinese, Otogosaurus is known as 鄂托克龙. Otogosaurus sarulai is known as 萨茹拉鄂托克龙.
Otogosaurus sarulai
Otogosaurus sarulai was discovered in Inner MongoliaInner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
, and speculated to be a plant eater. The length of the dinosaur is about 15 meters. The foot and right hip bone of the dinosaur was found, along with miscellaneous fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
s. These were dated to about 80 million years of age, placing Otogosaurus in the Cretaceous
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
Period. Based on the surviving bone structure, it is reasoned to have a strong waist and back, with the hind legs longer than the front legs. The place of habitation of Otogosaurus would have been around a body of water, such as a lake, with vegetation. Fossilized footprints were also discovered with the fossils nearby.