Ruixinia (named after Ruixin Zhang) is an extinct genus of titanosauriform that lived in Early Cretaceous of China. The type species is Ruixinia zhangi.
Discovery and Naming[]
The holotype (ELDM EL-J009) was discovered in sediments of Yixian Formation. The material was partially embedded in matrix, and only the left side is prepared. In 2022, it was described by Jinyou Mo, Feimin Ma, Yilun Yu, and Xu Xing. The generic and specific name is named after Ruixin Zhang.
Description[]
It consisted of a partial fragmented skeleton. It was a mid-sized sauropod, with an estimated length of 12 meters. The neck of Ruixinia was over 4 meters long and consisted of at least 15 cervical vertebrae. The tail contained at least 52 vertebrae. The chevrons are distinctive, particularly that of the 20th caudal vertebra, which has a pentagonal shape. The last few vertebrae were fused together.
Classification[]
It is classified as a member of titanosauria. Its sister taxon is Jiangshanosaurus.
Paleoecology[]
It lived with Dongbeititan and Liaoningotitan.
Gallery[]
