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11-25-2020, 10:05 PM( This post was last modified: 04-23-2021, 03:46 AM by DinoFan83 )
Yutyrannus (meaning "feathered tyrant") is a genus of proceratosaurid tyrannosauroid dinosaurs which contains a single known species, Yutyrannus huali. This species probably lived during the early Cretaceous period in what is now northeastern China, though there is a chance it may have been from the late Jurassic. Three specimens of Y. huali - all found in the rock beds of Liaoning Province - are known. It is the largest known dinosaur to preserve protofeathers, with all 3 specimens preserving them. However, whether the protofeathers were extensively or sparsely distributed isn't yet clear due to incomplete preservation. Yutyrannus was a medium-sized bipedal predator, although it was among the largest known of the proceratosaurids. The holotype and oldest known specimen, ZCDM V5000 has an estimated length of 6.4 meters and an estimated weight of about 900 kg with a femur length of 85 cm and an estimated skull length of 90.5 cm. The femoral lengths of the subadult paratypes (ZCDM V5001 and ELDM V1001) are 65 cm and 61.3 cm respectively, with skulls estimated at 80 and 63 cm respectively. Their respective weights can be estimated at 402 kg and 337 kg based on comparison of femoral length with the holotype specimen.
The describers established some diagnostic traits of Yutyrannus, in which it differs from its direct relatives. The snout features a high midline crest, formed by the nasals and the premaxillae and which is covered by large pneumatic recesses. The postorbital has a small secondary process, jutting into the upper hind corner of the eye socket. The outer side of the main body of the postorbital is hollowed out. In the lower jaw, the external mandibular fenestra, the main opening in the outer side, is mainly located in the surangular. Yutyrannus would have had an enormous head relative to its body size, exceeding many other carnivorous dinosaurs in this aspect. Its skull was very deep, wide, robust, and full of serrated teeth. Unlike its later relatives such as Tyrannosaurus (but similar to other proceratosaurids like Guanlong), it would have had large and strong three-fingered arms, tipped with sharp claws. It was moderately robust and somewhat long-legged.
