Bone histology of <i>Liaoningosaurus paradoxus</i> (Ornithischia: Ankylosauria) from the Lower Cretaceous of Liaoning Province, China

doi:10.1080/02724634.2025.2566325

IVPP-IR

	*Bone histology of Liaoningosaurus paradoxus* (Ornithischia: Ankylosauria) from the Lower Cretaceous of Liaoning Province, China**
	Zheng, Wenjie 1; Zhao, Qi 2,3; Barrett, Paul M.4; Xu, Xing2,5
	2025-10-25
发表期刊	JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY
ISSN	0272-4634
页码	15
通讯作者	Zheng, Wenjie(zhengwj@zmnh.com) ; Zhao, Qi(zhaoqi@ivpp.ac.cn)
摘要	The ankylosaurian dinosaur Liaoningosaurus paradoxus, from the Lower Cretaceous of Liaoning Province, China, is represented by numerous specimens identified as juvenile individuals based on their body size but without bone histological evidence. Here, we present the first osteohistological study of this species based on two referred specimens, ELDM V1121 and IVPP V 20798, the latter being the largest known L. paradoxus specimen. The femoral lengths of the two specimens are 31.5 mm and 56.5 mm, respectively, and they are about 10% and 100% longer than the holotype (28.5 mm). We sampled axial (dorsal ribs), appendicular (humerus, radius, ulna, femur, and fibula) and dermal (cervical half-ring osteoderm) bones. All thin-sections of the L. paradoxus specimens in our study lack lines of arrested growth, an external fundamental system, and secondary osteons. This indicates that both specimens were less than one year old at the time of death. Specimen ELDM V1121 exhibits highly vascularized canals, primarily arranged longitudinally and surrounded by randomly distributed osteocyte lacunae. Additionally, the presence of a hatching line indicates that ELDM V1121 was a hatchling at the time of death. Liaoningosaurus is currently the only known definitive hatchling ankylosaurian dinosaur specimen globally. Histological analysis of a cervical half-ring, the co-ossified osteoderms situated dorsolaterally on the neck, of IVPP V 20798, reveals a very thin compact cortex enclosing cancellous bone. This is similar to those of ankylosaurids and Scelidosaurus but different from the osteoderm structure typical of nodosaurids.
DOI	10.1080/02724634.2025.2566325
关键词[WOS]	GROWTH ; DINOSAURIA ; OSTEODERMS
收录类别	SCI
语种	英语
资助项目	Chinese Natural Science Foundation[42072008] ; Chinese Natural Science Foundation[42272020] ; Chinese Natural Science Foundation[42288201] ; Zhejiang Publicity and Culture Youth Talent Project ; Yunnan Revitalization Talent Support Program[202305AB350006]
项目资助者	Chinese Natural Science Foundation ; Zhejiang Publicity and Culture Youth Talent Project ; Yunnan Revitalization Talent Support Program
WOS研究方向	Paleontology
WOS类目	Paleontology
WOS记录号	WOS:001608728300001
出版者	TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC
引用统计
文献类型	期刊论文
条目标识符	http://119.78.100.205/handle/311034/25091
专题	中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所
通讯作者	Zheng, Wenjie; Zhao, Qi
作者单位	1.Zhejiang Museum Nat Hist, Hangzhou 310014, Peoples R China 2.Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Vertebrate Paleontol & Paleoanthropol, Key Lab Vertebrate Evolut & Human Origins, Beijing 100044, Peoples R China 3.Univ Chinese Acad Sci, Coll Earth & Planetary Sci, Beijing 100049, Peoples R China 4.Nat Hist Museum, Fossil Reptiles Amphibians & Birds Sect, Cromwell Rd, London SW7 5DB, England 5.Yunnan Univ, Ctr Vertebrate Evolutionary Biol, Kunming 650091, Peoples R China
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Zheng, Wenjie,Zhao, Qi,Barrett, Paul M.,et al. Bone histology of Liaoningosaurus paradoxus (Ornithischia: Ankylosauria) from the Lower Cretaceous of Liaoning Province, China[J]. JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY,2025:15.
APA	Zheng, Wenjie,Zhao, Qi,Barrett, Paul M.,&Xu, Xing.(2025).Bone histology of Liaoningosaurus paradoxus (Ornithischia: Ankylosauria) from the Lower Cretaceous of Liaoning Province, China.JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY,15.
MLA	Zheng, Wenjie,et al."Bone histology of Liaoningosaurus paradoxus (Ornithischia: Ankylosauria) from the Lower Cretaceous of Liaoning Province, China".JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY (2025):15.