Dong Zhiming
In 1979 and 1980, two specimens were discovered of a small herbivorous dinosaur during excavations near Dashanpu in Sichuan. In 1983 Dong Zhiming and Tang Zilu named the fossils under the type species "Xiaosaurus dashanpensis". The generic name is derived from Chinese "xiáo", 曉, "dawn", a reference to the age of the fossil. The specific name refers to Danshanpu.