Ulughbegsaurus Temporal range: Turonian, | |
---|---|
Holotype maxilla fragment | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Clade: | Dinosauria |
Clade: | Saurischia |
Clade: | Theropoda |
Clade: | † Carcharodontosauria |
Family: | † Carcharodontosauridae (?) |
Genus: | † Ulughbegsaurus Tanaka et al., 2021 |
Type species | |
†Ulughbegsaurus uzbekistanensis Tanaka et al., 2021 |
Ulughbegsaurus (meaning "Ulugh Beg's lizard") is an extinct genus of carcharodontosaurian theropod dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous Bissekty Formation, Uzbekistan. The type species is Ulughbegsaurus uzbekistanensis.
The Ulughbegsaurus fossil material was discovered in the Bissekty Formation, Uzbekistan in the 1980s. The holotype specimen, UzSGM 11-01-02, consists of a partial left maxilla. This specimen remained in the collection of the State Geological Museum of the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Geology and Mineral Resources, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, until 2019, when it was rediscovered. Two additional specimens have been referred to the genus, including CCMGE 600/12457, the jugal ramus of a left maxilla that was previously referred to the dromaeosaurid Itemirus , and ZIN PH 357/16, the posterior end of a right maxilla. [1]
Isolated teeth from the Bissekty Formation show similarities to carcharodontosaurians, suggesting they may belong to Ulughbegsaurus or possibly another genus of carcharodontosaurian. [1]
In 2021, Tanaka and colleagues described Ulughbegsaurus uzbekistanensis as a new genus and species of theropod dinosaur, honouring the 15th century Timurid sultan and scientist Ulugh Beg and the country of its discovery. [1]
A partial Acrocanthosaurus -like posterior dorsal vertebra described in 2024 has also been found in the Bissekty Formation, which could belong to Ulughbegsaurus. [2]
The body length of Ulughbegsaurus is estimated at 7.5–8 metres (25–26 ft) and its body mass at over 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb). [1]
Tanaka et al. (2021) ran two phylogenetic analyses using two different datasets to determine the relationships of Ulughbegsaurus. The first placed it in a polytomy including Neovenator and other megaraptorans, while the second placed it in a polytomy including other basal carcharodontosaurians; megaraptorans were instead recovered as members of the Tyrannosauroidea. Both analyses are shown below: [1]
Topology 1: Hendrickx & Mateus dataset | Topology 2: Chokchaloemwong et al. dataset |
A 2022 study suggested that the taxon was a nomen dubium due to lacking diagnostic features, and that it was plausible that the maxilla fragment originated from a dromaeosaurid instead. [3] However, these authors later commented that the discovery of a more complete theropod maxilla fragment from older Uzbekistani rocks, comparable to the Ulughbegsaurus holotype, confirmed that the genus is a valid carcharodontosaurian taxon, possibly within the Carcharodontosauridae. [2]
Ulughbegsaurus coexisted in the Bissekty Formation environment with other carnivorous theropods, including the tyrannosauroid Timurlengia and the dromaeosaurid Itemirus . [1] [4]
Asiamericana is a dubious genus of coelurosaur known only from isolated teeth found in the Bissekty Formation of Uzbekhistan. It was named to recognize the occurrence of similar fossil teeth in Central Asia and North America. These regions once formed a connected land mass, during the Cretaceous period.
Kuru is a genus of dromaeosaurid theropod from the Late Cretaceous Barun Goyot Formation of Mongolia. The genus contains only a single species, the type species Kuru kulla, which is known from a fragmentary skeleton including a partial skull.
Itemirus is a genus of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur from the Turonian aged Bissekty Formation of the Late Cretaceous period of Uzbekistan.
Erectopus is an extinct genus of basal allosauroid theropod from the Early Cretaceous La Penthiève Beds Formation of France and also possibly the Cernavodă Formation of southern Romania. The type species is E. superbus, which was initially known as a species of Megalosaurus.
Graciliraptor is a genus of theropod dinosaur from the early Cretaceous Period. It is a microraptorine dromaeosaurid.
Sinocalliopteryx is a genus of carnivorous compsognathid theropod dinosaurs from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of China.
Shaochilong is an extinct genus of carcharodontosaurid theropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous Miaogou Formation of China. The type species, S. maortuensis, was originally named Chilantaisaurus maortuensis, but was re-described and reclassified in 2009.
Megaraptora is a clade of carnivorous theropod dinosaurs with controversial relationships to other tetanuran theropods. Its derived members, the Megaraptoridae are noted for their large hand claws and powerfully-built forelimbs, which are usually reduced in size in other large theropods.
Qiupalong is an extinct genus of ornithomimosaurian theropod that was discovered in the Late Cretaceous Qiupa Formation of Henan, China. The genus contains a single species, Q. henanensis, the specific epithet for which was named for the province of Henan. Uniquely, Qiupalong is one of the few Late Cretaceous non-avian dinosaurs known from both Asia and Laramidia. Specimens from Russia and Alberta have been referred to the genus without being assigned to the type species.
Siats (/see-ats/) is an extinct genus of large theropod dinosaur known from the Late Cretaceous Cedar Mountain Formation of Utah, United States. It contains a single species, Siats meekerorum. It was initially classified as a megaraptoran, a clade of large theropods with very controversial relationships. Siats may be a neovenatorid allosauroid, a coelurosaur of uncertain phylogenetic position, or a tyrannosauroid. Recent studies suggest however a carcharodontosaurid classification.
Timurlengia is an extinct genus of tyrannosauroid theropod dinosaur found in Uzbekistan, in the Bissekty Formation in the Kyzylkum Desert, hailing from the Turonian age of the early Late Cretaceous. The type species is Timurlengia euotica.
Murusraptor is a genus of carnivorous megaraptoran theropod dinosaur from the Sierra Barrosa Formation, part of the Neuquén Group of Patagonia, in Argentina, South America. It is known from a single specimen that consists of a partial skull, ribs, partial pelvis, leg and other assorted skeletal elements.
Rativates is a genus of ornithomimid theropod dinosaur from the Dinosaur Park Formation of Alberta. The type species is Rativates evadens.
Tratayenia is an extinct genus of megaraptoran theropod dinosaurs known from remains found in the Santonian-age Bajo de la Carpa Formation of Argentina. The type and only species, Tratayenia rosalesi, was described in March 2018.
Paraxenisaurus is an extinct genus of ornithomimosaurian theropod from the Late Cretaceous Cerro del Pueblo Formation of Coahuila in Mexico. The genus contains a single species, P. normalensis, which is known from a few bones of tail, hips, hands, and feet. The specific epithet was given in honor of the Benemérita Normal School of Coahuila, a teacher training institution, where the fossils were reposited. It is a member of the family Deinocheiridae and is the only member of that clade known from Laramidia.
Oksoko is a genus of oviraptorid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Asia, that lived in what is now the Nemegt Formation in Mongolia. It includes the type species Oksoko avarsan.
Dzharatitanis is a genus of sauropod from the Bissekty Formation in Uzbekistan, dating to the Turonian age of the Late Cretaceous. The genus contains a single species, Dzharatitanis kingi, named after geologist Christopher King, who contributed to the Cretaceous geology of Asia. It is currently one of two known sauropods from the Bissekty Formation, alongside an indeterminate titanosaur. In its original publication it was considered to be a member of Rebbachisauridae, but later papers considered it to be a titanosaur.
Kansaignathus is an extinct genus of dromaeosaurid theropod from the Late Cretaceous Yalovach Formation of Tajikistan. The genus contains only one species, the type species, K. sogdianus. The generic name of Kansaignathus comes from near the town of Konsoy where it was discovered and the Greek word "gnathos" meaning "jaw". The specific epithet "sogdianus" is derived from the historical region of Sogdiana, which was an ancient name for the Fergana Valley region where the fossil was discovered. Kansaignathus is known from a single right dentary bone and a few post-cranial bone fragments. It was the first, and so far the only, dinosaur from Tajikistan to be described and named.
Khulsanurus is an extinct genus of alvarezsaurid theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Barungoyot Formation of the Khulsan Locality in the Gobi Desert region of Mongolia. The type and only species is Khulsanurus magnificus.
Dzharaonyx is a genus of alvarezsaurid theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Bissekty Formation of Uzbekistan. The type species is Dzharaonyx eski; eski being an Uzbek word for "old".