Yunnanosaurus Characteristics

Yunnanosaurus is a medium sized dinosaur and measured 23 feet (7metres) in length, 7 feet (2 metres) in height and weighed 600 kilograms (1,300 pounds). Larger species could measure up to 42 feet (13 metres) in length. Yunnanosaurus had more than 60 spoon-shaped teeth in the jaws and were unique among prosauropods in that its teeth were self-sharpening because they would grind against each other as the dinosaur ate. Scientists consider these teeth to be advanced compared to other prosauropods. This primitive sauropodomorph had a long neck, long tail and a small, narrow head with a short snout. Yunnanosaurus also had a skull that had a different shape than its earlier relatives.

Yunnanosaurus was a herbivore and ate prehistoric plant material. It would have probably lumbered through fern-like vegetation.

Yunnanosaurus is known from 20 skeletons, including 2 skulls, recovered from the Lufeng Formation of Yunnan, China.

Yunnanosaurus was discovered and named in China by paleontologist Young Chung Chien (C.C. Young) in 1942, in the province of Yunnan. The type species is Y. huangi.