The Yuanyanglong fossil material, was discovered in 2021 in sediments of the Miaogou Formation (Maortu locality) in the Gobi Desert of Chilantai, Inner Mongolia, China. Two incomplete skeletons were found in association on the same block, which are assumed to represent the same species based on comparable anatomy and body size. The holotype specimen, PV02476-1, consists of the pelvic girdle, the right hindlimb missing the foot, the pectoral girdle, the right forelimb missing the hand, several ribs, and dorsal and caudal vertebrae. The associated referred specimen, PV02476-2, includes an incomplete poorly-preserved skull, partial hindlimb without the foot, incomplete pelvis, several dorsal vertebrae, and a partial sacrum.[1]
In 2024, Hao et al. announced Yuanyanglong bainian as a new genus and species of early oviraptorosaurs based on these fossil remains. The generic name, Yuanyanglong, combines yuanyang (鴛鴦), the Mandarin word for "lovebirds" (the mandarin duck), a species symbolic of mating for life with the Chinese word long, meaning "dragon". This name refers to the two discovered associated individuals. The specific name, bainian (百年), is a Chinese word meaning "a hundred years", commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first named oviraptorosaur taxa, Chirostenotes and Oviraptor, in March 1924 and November 1924, respectively.[2][3] The final version of the article describingYuanyanglong bainian was published the following year.[1]
Yuanyanglong represents the first Early Cretaceous oviraptorosaur to be named from the Gobi Desert region, with other Gobi relatives coming from Late Cretaceous outcrops.[1]
↑Gilmore, C.W. (1924). "A new coelurid dinosaur from the Belly River Cretaceous of Alberta". Canada Department of Mines Geological Survey Bulletin (Geological Series). 38 (43): 1–12.
↑Osborn, H. F. (1924). "Three new Theropoda, Protoceratops zone, central Mongolia". American Museum Novitates (144): 1−12. hdl:2246/3223. OCLC40272928.
