Qianzhousaurus

## QianzhousaurusQianzhou Lizard

Has prominent eye crests and horns on its snout

***“ Qianzhousaurus, the top predator in these Asiatic forests. This is a female, over 30 feet long. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Forests*
***Qianzhousaurus*** (Qianzhou Lizard, named after "Qianzhou", the old name of place it was found in, "Ganzhou City") is a genus of medium-sized tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaur that served as the apex predator of the Nanxiong Formation, Guangdong Province in southern China, 67 - 66 million years ago, during the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous Period.

## Paleobiology

### Size and Physique

*Qianzhousaurus* is a medium-sized tyrannosaurid estimated to be 2 meters (6 feet, 7 inches) tall, 7 - 9 meters (23 - 30 feet) long, and 750 – 757 kilograms (1,653 – 1,669 pounds) in body mass. As an alioramin tyrannosaur (the biggest of the three known, the others being *Alioramus remotus* and *Alioramus altai*), *Qianzhousaurus* has a gracile build and long snout, allowing it to go after quick, small to medium-sized prey, likely an adaptation so that it didn't directly compete with other tyrannosaurids with the usual large size and robust physique. As with alioramins, *Qianzhousaurus* has prominent eye crests and horns on its snout, faintly resembling those seen on the noses of some pachycephalosaurs.

### Feathers

For tyrannosauroids, feathers appear to be a trait exhibited by basal tyrannosauroids like the 9-meter (30-foot) proceratosaurid *Yutyrannus huali* (the largest feathered animal known so far), with no evidence indicating their presence on later members of the group like *Qianzhousaurus* and *T. rex*. However, given how *Qianzhousaurus* is around the same size as *Yutyrannus* and also lived in a cool region within China, the presence of feathers on it may be more plausible than it first appears to be.

### Prehistoric Planet's Depiction

Prehistoric Planet depicts *Qianzhousaurus* with red-brown skin, streaked with thin, vertical yellow stripes present from muzzle to tail, giving the theropod a tiger-like appearance, fitting camouflage given its forest environment. It also has what appears to be a faint, black, mask-like design that extends from its eyebrow crests to the middle section of its muzzle. *Qianzhousaurus* is also shown covered by moderately-thick plumage, which helps keep it warm in the cold, temperate forests of southern China.

While it has the most prominent snout stripes, *Qianzhousaurus* actually shares this feature with the other tyrannosaurs shown on Prehistoric Planet, and it's been theorized that this is a trait that they all inherited from their last common ancestor. While there is no confirmation of this being the case, Dr. Darren Naish, Prehistoric Planet's lead consultant, shared this fan theory, indicating a degree of support and plausibility for the idea.

## Paleoecology

### Paleoenvironment

*Main: Nanxiong Formation*

Main: Nanxiong Formation

***“ As the seasonal winds strengthen, many of the trees in these temperate forests start to lose their leaves. Winter will be a time of hardship. Nevertheless, a storm does create a brief opportunity for hunters. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Forests*
*Qianzhousaurus* lived 67 - 66 million years ago in the Nanxiong Formation, Guangdong Province, South China, which is depicted on Prehistoric Planet as a series of temperate, deciduous mountain forests. Due to the lower temperatures in this area, *Qianzhousaurus* has a slight coat of feathers to keep itself warm. But to maintain this heat, it requires food, hence, for the incoming winter, which will inevitably be hard for all living beings, predators require constant kills, or a single, large meal.

### Hunting Tactics and Feeding Preferences

***“ She's trying again. She's less-conspicuous in the gloom, and the gusting wind is distracting. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Forests*
As with many predators, the female *Qianzhousaurus* is shown to be solitary. It is also possible, however, that she is hunting food for both herself and family, be it a mate, or hatchlings, or even a larger pack.

*Qianzhousaurus* is shown to possess a degree of cunning fitting for most predators. She makes slow movements and uses the little cover she has to approach prey unnoticed. She can also use the weather to her advantage, like modern predators today, letting the darker shade of an overhead storm conceal her as the howling winds drown out the sound of her movements. By the time her prey has sensed her, it is too late, and she is able to successfully ambush them and deliver the killing blow. Overall, *Qianzhousaurus* is depicted as the prehistoric equivalent of a tiger, the stealthy apex predator of some Asian forests today.

## Appearance

In the fourth segment of Forests, as autumn takes hold of the temperate woods of southern China, a group of *Corythoraptors* feast on an abundance of fallen gingko nuts. But as they enjoy their banquet, a 9-meter (30-foot) female *Qianzhousaurus* sneaks in on them, hoping to catch one.

***“ If she is to catch a Corythoraptor, she'll have to get close. There's not much cover here. But her prey have still not noticed her. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Forests*
Even with little cover to hide her, the flock of oviraptorids have yet to notice the tyrannosaur. However, as she took one step closer to her chosen prey, they pick up the sound of leaves rustling under her foot. Deciding that she is close enough, the *Qianzhousaurus* rushes at the members of the flock, all of which manage to scamper away, squawking.

***“ She has failed. But then, most hunts throughout the history of life fail most of the time. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Forests*
Even so, the *Qianzhousaurus* tries again. As a storm forms over the forests, foreshadowing the arrival of the winter, the tyrannosaur takes advantage of the gloom concealing her and the loud gusts of wind drowning out the sound of her footsteps. Sensing the predator incoming, a *Corythoraptor* tries to dash away, but by that time, it is too late, and with a single lunge, the *Qianzhousaurus* grabs the oviraptorid by the back, finishing the job by crushing her prey's neck.

***“ An 80-pound prize. All the more valuable since winter is now closing in. ”***

― **David Attenborough**, *Forests*
Having earned her meal, the *Qianzhousaurus* picks up the dead *Corythoraptor* by the base of its neck and walks away, either to feed on it herself, or to share it with family.

## Trivia

* *Qianzhousaurus* is the only tyrannosaur presented on Prehistoric Planet that:
	+ Is a member of the alioramin tribe.
	+ Appeared in a non-polar temperate forest.
	+ Was never seen socializing or interacting with another member of its kind, as only one individual, a female, was shown onscreen.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 As stated in Forests
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Naish, Darren (@TetZoo) (June 18, 2022) on Twitter, confirming the acceptable size estimates for *Qianzhousaurus*.
3. ↑ Black, Riley. Scientists Discover a Gigantic Feathered Tyrannosaur. *Smithsonian Magazine*
4. ↑ Katz, Brigit. 2012. T. Rex Was Likely Covered in Scales, Not Feathers. *Smithsonian Magazine*
5. ↑ Naish, Darren (@TetZoo) (June 19, 2023) on Twitter, sharing the fan theory involving the snout stripes of the tyrannosaurs featured on Prehistoric Planet