A ceratopsian dinosaur from China and the early evolution of Ceratopsia.
Ceratopsians (horned dinosaurs) represent one of the last and the most diverse radiations of non-avian dinosaurs. Although recent systematic work unanimously supports a basal division of Ceratopsia into parrot-like psittacosaurids and frilled neoceratopsians, the early evolution of the group remains poorly understood, mainly owing to its incomplete early fossil record. Here we describe a primitive ceratopsian from China. Cladistic analysis posits this new species as the most basal neoceratopsian. This new taxon demonstrates that some neoceratopsian characters evolved in a more incremental fashion than previously known and also implies mosaic evolution of characters early in ceratopsian history.
Xu
Xing
X
Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100044, China. xxu@midwest.com.cn
Makovicky
Peter J
PJ
Wang Xl
Xiao-lin
XL
Norell
Mark A
MA
You Hl
Hai-lu
HL
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002681:China; D025061:Dinosaurs / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification; D005580:Fossils; D010802:Phylogeny; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology