An entirely new genus and species of massopodan sauropodomorph, which inhabited the Earth during the Early Jurassic epoch, has been brought to light through the excavation of a partial skeleton from southwestern China. Designated Xiangyunloong fengming, this dinosaur represents a crucial evolutionary link between the initial herbivorous species and the colossal quadrupedal sauropods that would later become dominant throughout the Mesozoic era.
An artist’s impression of Xiangyunloong fengming. Image credit: Connor Ashbridge / CC BY 4.0.
Xiangyunloong fengming roamed what is presently China approximately 190 million years ago, during the Early Jurassic period.
Estimates derived from its fossilized remains suggest the dinosaur attained a length of roughly 9-10 meters (30-33 feet), positioning it among the largest of the early-diverging sauropodomorph dinosaurs discovered to date in China.
This particular species belonged to the massopoda group, a classification of sauropodomorphs that flourished from the Late Triassic through the Late Cretaceous periods.
“The Early Jurassic epoch stands as a pivotal juncture in the trajectory of dinosaur evolution, witnessing the significant diversification and subsequent ascendancy of sauropodomorph dinosaurs within terrestrial ecosystems,” remarked Dr. Ya-Ming Wang of the Geological Museum of China, alongside his research associates.
“Within this evolutionary lineage, non-sauropodan massopodan sauropodomorphs played an instrumental role in the developmental pathways that ultimately led to the immense body plans characteristic of sauropods.”
“Consequently, a comprehensive understanding of the anatomical characteristics, biodiversity, and paleobiogeographical distribution of these early-diverging sauropodomorphs is fundamental to unraveling the origins of sauropods, which represent one of the most evolutionarily successful clades of dinosaurs.”
The incomplete skeletal remains of Xiangyunloong fengming were recovered from the Fengjiahe Formation, situated in Luming town within China’s Yunnan province.
The unearthed specimen comprises cervical, dorsal, and caudal vertebrae, in addition to portions of the pelvic girdle.
An examination of the fossil evidence reveals that this dinosaur exhibited a unique combination of traits, which the researchers interpret as an indicator of an alternative evolutionary trajectory. Rather than possessing the elongated neck commonly associated with gigantic dinosaurs, it featured a remarkably robust and extended tail.
It is hypothesized that this substantial tail may have functioned as a counterbalance, enabling the creature to rear up on its hind limbs for foraging purposes, despite having a neck that was comparatively short in relation to its overall body mass.
Through a detailed phylogenetic analysis, the scientific team determined that Xiangyunloong fengming occupies an evolutionary position intermediate between earlier sauropodomorphs and more advanced forms that were closer progenitors to true sauropods.
“The unveiling of this novel specimen substantially enriches the known dinosaur fauna from the Early Jurassic period in southwestern China,” stated the study’s authors.
“It furnishes critical new anatomical insights that augment our comprehension of morphological disparity and evolutionary patterns observed among the early-diverging sauropodomorphs.”
These significant discoveries were disseminated on March 25th, appearing in the esteemed journal Royal Society Open Science.
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Shao-Bin Hu et al. 2026. A new sauropodomorph dinosaur from the Lower Jurassic Fengjiahe Formation of Dali of Yunnan Province, China. R Soc Open Sci 13 (3): 252219; doi: 10.1098/rsos.252219
