Early Cretaceous China and Mongolia

from the Dinosaur Collector

update 073103 proof 020606 rgk

The Psittacosaurus fauna contains:  the theropods  Kelmayisaurus, Phaedrolosaurus, Tugulusaurus, iguanodont Probactrosaurus, stegosaur  Wuerhosaurus and protoceratopsids Microceratops and Psittacosaurus. 

Wuerhosaurus was one of the last stegosaurs known, but is based on fragmentary remains.  Stegosaurs die out in the Early Cretaceous everywhere, possibly from competition with new types of armored dinosaurs.

This is the Yowie Australian stegosaurus.  The presence of stegosaurs in Australia is inferred from a footprint found in Australia; though it is unlikely the foot print actually belonged to a stegosaurus.  The figure is a good match for most reconstructions of Wuerhosaurus.

 As many as 90% of the fossils found at some sites are from Psittacosaurus (Parrot Lizard), providing us with multiple complete Psittacosaurus  skeletons.  Not a large dinosaur; at about 6 feet it is the earliest known relative of the ceratopsians (Protoceratops and Triceratops).  It is one of the best-known dinosaurs, as is its later relative Protoceratops.   

The Carnegie Safari Psittacosaurus 1/10 scale, part of a trend at Safari to represent smaller dinosaurs in a bigger scale than the 1/40 scale.  This figure was retired unusually quickly.

Psittacosaurus retained many features seen in ornithopods (like the iguanodon) but includes features, like its beak, found only in Triceratops and its relatives.  It was originally thought to be a relative of iguanodon.

Psittacosaurus, from the Oriental Trading Company.  It is a rare figure, possibly because of name Iguanodon stamped it. Getting the names correct is a common problem with many figures made in China.

Garudimimus is older than Gallimimus, with 4 toes and horns or a crest above the eyes.  It lived in the early part of the Late Cretaceous.

A Psittacosaurus from Starlux and a Garudimimus I cast from a retail mold.   

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