| Xiongguanlong | |
|---|---|
 | |
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Kingdom: |
Animalia |
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Phylum: |
Chordata |
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Class: |
Reptilia |
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Superorder: |
Dinosauria |
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Order: |
Saurischia |
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Suborder: |
Theropoda |
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Superfamily: |
†Tyrannosauroidea |
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Family: |
Incertae sedis |
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Genus: |
†Xiongguanlong |
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Species: |
†X. baimoensis (type) |
Xiongguanlong was a genus of basal tyrannosaur from the Aptian-Albian Stage (Early Cretaceous) that lived in China. This recently discovered genus is believed to be a sister taxon to the clade containing Appalachiosaurus, and to the family Tyrannosauridae .
X. baimoensis is characterized by its slender and elongated skull, resembling the later Alioramus. Xiongguanlong also marks the appearance of a handful of hallmark features for tyrannosaurids including premaxillary teeth, a sagittal crest, a box-like bascranium, and several other features. X. baimoensis was intermediate in size between Barremian age tyrannosaurus and late cretaceous tyrannosaurus. The vertebrae of this tyrannosaur were more robust than the vertebrae in other basal tyrannosaurus, which would have better supported a large skull. It is estimated to have weighed 300 kg (660 lb).