Illustration of a new compsognathid, Huaxiagnathus orientalis - by Beri (graphite), Copyright © 1999-2004 BERI

Feb 2004

Huaxiagnathus orientalis - a large compsognathid from Early Cretaceous of China

The paper was published in March, 2004 in the new Journal of Systematic Paleontology (The British National History Museum):
- Sunny H. Hwang, Mark A. Norell, Ji Qiang, Gao Keqin, 2004, A LARGE
COMPSOGNATHID FROM THE EARLY CRETACEOUS YIXIAN, FORMATION OF CHINA.
Journal of Systematic Palaeontology Volume 2 (Issue 01), 13-30.

It describes a new compsognathid, Huaxiagnathus orientalis, ( new genus and species) known from a nearly complete skeleton lacking only the distal end of the tail. At the first glance, the skull is very similar to the still unnamed new German compsognathid. Rather short forelimb has three fingers.

In the paper "Huaxiasaurus" specimen is reffered to Huaxiagnathus. Supplementary information is included and has 17 new characters added to the Theropod Working Group Matrix, and several new taxa coded in it (Shenzhousaurus, Archaeornithomimus, Ornithomimus, Anserimimus, Huaxiagnathus, Sinosauropteryx, Compsognathus, IGM 100/44).  The topology has compsognathids (Huaxiagnathus, Sinosauropteryx, Compsognathus) as maniraptorans more derived than Ornitholestes.  

Early Cretaceous, People's Republic of China, Yixian Formation, Liaoning, Yehol Group sediments.

Approximate length: 130-145cm

Pronounciation: hua-xia-NA-thus

Holotype photograph from the paper

Publishers interested in the above illustration (high resolution image for publishing purposes), please, contact Beri.