Huayangosaurus

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***Huayangosaurus*** is a genus of huayangosaurid dinosaur that originated from Middle Jurassic Asia. A small species of stegosaur, *Huayangosaurus* is more easily contained than its relatives, and is one of the first dinosaur species available to the Hammond Foundation on Isla Matanceros.

## Characteristics

Resembling a smaller version of *Stegosaurus*, *Huayangosaurus* a sturdy medium-sized herbivore, at around 8.5 meters in length, that shares the same distinctive back plates as its more renowned relative. Its name translates to "*Huayang Lizard*", in reference to the location of its discovery, the previous name of the Sichuan region of China. As well as a small head, *Huayangosaurus* has the prominent but small armored plates crossing its back until its hips and and then plates again until ending with four spikes on its tail that helps it to defend itself from predators. It also has two large spikes on its shoulders. Unlike *Stegosaurus*, its back plates were more like spikes. The base genome of *Huayangosaurus* is a light brown colour with darker brown across its back.

### Behaviour

In comparison to other stegosaurians, such as *Kentrosaurus* and *Stegosaurus*, *Huayangosaurus* is a very adaptable animal, comfortable living solitary or in social groups of up to thirteen individuals. Similarly, while they can live alone, they can tolerate living in mixed species enclosures of up to twenty different dinosaurs. To meet their comfort requirements, *Huayangosaurus* prefer enclosures with 3,648 m² of grassland and 3,090 m² of forest. Like other stegosaurids, they will stand their ground and fight against medium and large carnivores, but can coexist harmoniously with small carnivores such as *Velociraptor*.

With the addition of the *Claire's Sanctuary* expansion pack, *Huayangosaurus* show a paleobotany preference for *Mosses*, with secondary preferences for Paw Paw and Cycads. However, they will be harmed if they eat Rotten Wood, Horsetails or Palms.

## Paleontology

The oldest stegosaur known so far, *Huayangosaurus* comes from the Lower Shaximiao formation in the Dashanpu Quarries in the Chinese province of Sichuan. The first *Huayangosaurus* specimen was discovered in the Dashanpu Quarry in 1979-1980, when a team led by Chinese paleontologist Dong Zhiming unearthed the remains of twelve stegosauridae from a quarry in Zigong, Sichuan. The excavation included one specimen that could not be ascribed to an existing genus – in 1982, it was officially classified as a new genus, *Huayangosaurus*. The holotype specimen of a partial skeleton, with relatively complete head, was taken from the lower Shaximiao Formation.

Compared to later stegosaur's its skull was broader, indicating it was a generalist feeder and was not selective about what it ate. It also had teeth in the front of its beaked mouth, a trait usually seen in primitive dinosaurs such as *Lesothosaurus*. It is one of many stegosaurs found at Dashanpu. Other stegosaurs found here, though in younger rocks, include *Tuojiangosaurus*, *Chialingosaurus*, *Gigantspinosaurus*, and *Chungkingosaurus*, the latter being a direct descendant of *Huayangosaurus*.

### Paleoecology

*Huayangosaurus* inhabited the south-west of China during the Middle Jurassic period, around 160-170m years ago. This environment featured many rivers and lakes during this period, providing plenty of vegetation for herbivores like *Huayangosaurus*. There, it lived alongside a many other dinosaurs of the Jurassic period, including the ornithopods *Yandusaurus* and *Agilsaurus*, as well as the clubbed sauropod *Shunosaurus*. Carnivores in the site included the swift moving *Gasosaurus* and the older species of *Yangchuanosaurus*, *Y. zigongensis*, the apex predator of Jurassic China, both of which would have been threats for *Huayangosaurus*.

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