Paleontologists have identified a new dinosaur species that lived in China during the Early Cretaceous period adding a striking specimen to one of the most anatomically “bizarre” groups of dinosaurs ever found. The animal, named Kayrasaurus changliensis, was unearthed in the fossil-rich Yixian Formation of Liaoning Province and belongs to the therizinosaurs, an unusual group of meat-eating dinosaurs that evolved plant-eating habits over time.
Researchers Chun-Chi Liao, William Freimuth, Lindsay Zanno and Xing Xu described the find in a study published in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. The fossil, cataloged as IVPP V 18957, includes a nearly complete skeleton with a well-preserved skull, spine and forelimbs, though its hind legs were never recovered. Bone fusion patterns show the animal was still growing when it died and had not yet reached full adulthood, researchers said.
New dinosaur species adds to early Cretaceous China’s fossil record
The dinosaur measured more than 3.6 meters (11.8 feet) long and likely weighed between 117 kilograms (258 pounds) and 274 kilograms (604 pounds), according to the study.
That makes it about 1.6 times larger than Beipiaosaurus inexpectus, previously the biggest therizinosaur known from the same ancient ecosystem, known as the Jehol Biota. Several features set Kayrasaurus apart from its relatives, researchers said. Its jaws held far more teeth than any other known therizinosaur.
The upper jaw carried more than 32 teeth, and the lower jaw held over 45, all unusually small and tightly packed. Its neck bones were also proportionally longer than those of related species, and one of its hand claws carried a distinct raised ridge not seen in other therizinosaurs.
Ancient mythology inspires the dinosaur’s name and family ties
The name Kayrasaurus comes from Turkic mythology. Researchers named it after Kayra, a creator god whose son Erlik ruled over death, a nod to the dinosaur’s evolutionary connection to another therizinosaur called Erlikosaurus. The species name, changliensis, refers to Changli, a historic place name tied to the region where the fossil was recovered.
Using an expanded analysis of family relationships among therizinosaurs, researchers placed Kayrasaurus between two previously known species, Jianchangosaurus yixianensis and Beipiaosaurus inexpectus, on the dinosaur family tree.
The discovery also offers clues about how these dinosaurs shared their environment. Researchers concluded that Kayrasaurus and Beipiaosaurus likely had stronger bites and slower, heavier builds suited for processing tough plant material. Jianchangosaurus and a fourth therizinosaur, Lingyuanosaurus sihedangensis, appeared built for faster movement and relied more on their forelimbs to gather food.
Researchers cautioned that the conclusions remain preliminary. They said the discovery adds to a small but growing list of dinosaur species recovered from early Cretaceous China, and that additional fossils are needed to confirm how these ancient animals divided their habitat and resources.
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