| Name | Ulughbegsaurus | Diet | Carnivorous |
| Name Meaning | “Ulugh Beg’s Lizard” | Height | 3m (9.8 ft) |
| Pronunciation | U-lugh-beg-sor-us | Length | 7.5 to 8m (25 to 26 ft.) |
| Era | Mesozoic – Late Cretaceous | Weight | 1,000 kgs. (2,200 lbs.) |
| Classification | Dinosauria, Saurischia, Theropoda | Location | Uzbekistan (Central Asia) |
Ulughbegsaurus Pictures
The Ulughbegsaurus
Ulughbegsaurus is a theropod that lived in Central Asia during the Late Cretaceous Period around 92 to 90 million years ago.
These dinosaurs were found in the Bissekty Formation in Uzbekistan, and due to the very little fossil evidence left behind they are a very unknown, and mysterious genus.
While discovered in the 1980s, the Ulughbegsaurus genus was only recently described in September of 2021.
Ulughbegsaurus are only known from a few bones, and much of what is known about these dinosaurs comes from the help of other theropods.
This article will take a look at Ulughbegsaurus, and what has been discovered about these ancient beasts.
From the little time these dinosaurs have been known there have been many misconceptions about them.
Like all dinosaurs with more research and fossil findings, Ulughbegsaurus may become better understood.
Physical Characteristics
Ulughbegsaurus is often described as resembling an early Tyrannosaur, and had a similar body structure to other theropods.
Even with the little fossil evidence found from this genus, Ulughbegsaurus has been able to be described into the Theropoda, and Aventheropdoa clade which can give some insight into how they looked.
Like other theropods Ulughbegsaurus walked on two legs, had a large head, and long tail to keep them balanced.
The holotype of Ulughbegsaurus UzSGM 11-01-02, was a left maxilla that had a length of around 24.2 cm (9.5 in.), and a height of 13.1 cm (5.1 in).
By comparing this discovery with other similar dinosaurs the size of this species has been able to be estimated.
When studying large theropods scientists have been able to figure out that the length of these dinosaurs’ maxillary tooth row correlates to the size of their femur.
While there has been no full maxillary tooth found of Ulughbegsaurus, the partial fossil discovered was much larger than that of giant species like the Yangchuanosaurus, making it likely Ulughbegsaurus was massive.
Ulughbegsaurus have an estimated length at around 7.5 to 8 meters (25 to 26 ft.), with a weight of around 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lbs.)
The height of this dinosaur is still unknown, but if more fossils are discovered even the smallest fragment can be useful in learning more about how Ulughbegsaurus looked.
Habitat and Distribution
Ulughbegsaurus was discovered in the Bissekty Formation, dating to around 90 to 92 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous Period.
The Bissekty Formation can be found in the Kyzylkum Desert in Uzbekistan which is within Central Asia.
Ulughbegsaurus is one of the first documented fossils of carcharodontosaurian from Central Asia, and originally these types of dinosaurs have only been found in Europe, North America, East, and Southeast Asia.
Central Asia is one of the regions of the world that has seen the negative effects from fossil bias.
There has been a lack of searches for fossils in Central Asia, and due to poor rock record many of the Cretaceous life like Ulughbegsaurus and their distribution is unknown.
Fossil evidence suggests Cretaceous Uzbekistan was a very wet region, with coastlands, and rivers running through the area.
The environment Ulughbegsaurus was likely very rich in various plants that were seen in other places of the globe like ferns, and ginkgoes.
Much like the dinosaur itself, the habitat of Ulughbegsaurus is mysterious due to the lack of fossil evidence giving insight into the prehistoric landscape of the region.
Behavior and Diet
The Ulughbegsaurus is a carnivore that was the apex predator in their habitat due to their size.
These dinosaurs fed on almost anything they came across and could catch, using their size to overpower their prey.
Where Ulughbegsaurus was discovered there were several other dinosaurs they likely preyed on, but herbivores like hadrosaurids, and sauropods would have been the easiest prey for them to eat.
These dinosaurs had sharp serrated teeth that measured up to 15.24 cm. (6 in.) in length, and allowed them to cut into flesh.
Younger and older dinosaurs made the easiest meals for these large predators.
Due to their size it would have been difficult to feed on other carnivores, since most would have been smaller and faster.
It is unknown if these large dinosaurs hunted in packs or alone, but pack hunting would have made it easier to take down larger dinosaurs like sauropods.
Ulughbegsaurus was a strict carnivore, and crowned a new apex predator in the environment they lived in.
The size, sharp teeth, and keen senses of smell, and eyesight that they had similar to other theropods made them successful predators.
Life Cycle
The life cycle of Ulughbegsaurus is relatively unknown since these dinosaurs have very little fossils discovered.
Likely Ulughbegsaurus reproduced like other dinosaurs by laying eggs, and mothers would have helped protect their young until they could have defended themselves.
Other specimens of Carcharontosaurids have been shown to be very slow growing, and fossils suggest some species could have lived up to 50 years old.
When younger and smaller these dinosaurs would have helped fill the predatory niche of smaller theropods, and likely competed with some of the tyrannosaurids they lived with.
The lack of fossils from Ulughbegsaurus make it impossible to know the growth rate, and true size of this species when old.
Only fragments from these dinosaurs have been discovered, and it is not known how old these specimens were when they died.
The life of Ulughbegsaurus likely resembled other similar dinosaurs, but there is still a lack of fossil data that can help distinguish these dinosaurs from others.
Evolution and History
The first Ulughbegsaurus fossil was discovered in the 1980s, found in the Bissekty Formation in Uzbekistan.
The holotype discovered was only a partial fossil of the left maxilla, and this finding would stay in the collection of the State Geological Museum in Uzbekistan, only until 2019 when it was found again.
Other Ulughbegsaurus fossils found include the finding CCMGE 600/12457, and the fossil ZIN PH 357/16, which are also both partially maxillas.
There have also been some findings of teeth which likely belonged to Ulughbegsaurus.
2021 is when the genus Ulughbegsaurus was named by Kohei Tanaka, and other scientists, and they were given their name to honor the scientists and sultan Ulugh Beg.
The type species Ulughbegsaurus uzbekistanensis is the only species of this dinosaur, and their species name references the region where they were discovered.
These dinosaurs have had two phylogenetic analyses done by Tanaka to attempt to identify where Ulughbegsaurus falls into its classifications.
One analysis has these dinosaurs classified into the Neovenatoridae clade, making them related to Allosaurids like the Megarpator, Neovenator, and Aerosteon.
They have also been placed with other basal carcharodontosaruians, but there is still much work needed to fully understand these dinosaurs.
Ulughbegsaurus due to their limited fossil evidence have also been suggested as a nomen dubium, and their remains may have belonged to a different type of dinosaur.
The classification of these dinosaurs, and what is accepted about them may change in the future, which is an often occurrence for new dinosaurs.
Interactions with Other Species
Ulughbegsaurus was one of the largest dinosaurs in its environment, and its size made it an apex predator where it lived.
Before the Ulughbegsaurus were discovered, there were no other carcharodontosaurids discovered in Central Asia, so it was believed that smaller theropods like early tyrannosaurids were the apex predator previously.
Ulughbegsaurus lived alongside dinosaurs like Timurlengia, and Itemirus, and these smaller theropods likely posed little threat to this giant.
The fossil beds where Ulughbegsaurus were discovered also contained other life, some of which was marine, or freshwater animals.
Some of the other dinosaurs found in the Bissekty Formation include:
- Archaeornithomimus
- Caenagnathasia
- Dzharaonyx
- Euronychodon
- Kuszholia
- Urbacodon
- Zhyraornis
- Dzharatitanis
- Bissekptipelta
- Levnesovia
- Turanoceratops
- Bactrosaurus
- Gilmoreosaurus
There have also been fossils of amphibians like frogs or salamanders, fish, early mammals, and therapsids where Ulughbegsaurus was discovered.
In Central Asia within the early Late Cretaceous period Ulughbegsaurus was dominant, but like other carcharodontosaurians they would become extinct.
The extinction of dinosaurs like Ulughbegsaurus would leave room for tyrannosaurids to evolve, and become the dominant dinosaur around the globe.
While alive Ulughbegsaurus preyed on herbivores, and could have eaten other theropods if given the chance.
Due to their size it was likely they were very aggressive, and preyed on animals that left themselves vulnerable like young, or older specimens.
Cultural Significance
The Ulughbegsaurus is very important in understanding the broken fossil record of carcharodontosaurs.
This genus is the last known specimen of carcharodontosaurid that lived alongside the tyrannosaurids, before going extinct.
Before the discovery of this dinosaur there was no larger theropod that lived in Central Asia, and the region lacked a definitive apex predator.
The popularity of this dinosaur grew very quickly, as they were an apex predator that was believed to be larger, and stronger than dinosaurs like the Tyrannosaurus rex.
Even with the small fossil evidence, Ulughbegsaurus, their popularity grew very quickly since they had an evolutionary effect on the Tyrannosaurids.
Ulughbegsaurus is still one of the most unknown dinosaurs, and there are still lots that may be discovered about them in the future.
Their presence definitely affected the evolution of dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurids, and their extinction helped create species like the T. Rex.
There are still lots of mysteries to be solved about them.
Conclusion
Ulughbegsaurus is one of the most mysterious dinosaurs, but that is since there have been very few fossils found, and it is still a new discovery, described in 2021.
Central Asia is one area in the globe where fossils are not commonly found, due to the poor rock formations, and the little excavations done.
While helping fill in the fossil record, Ulughbegsaurus gave paleontologists more insight on the prehistoric ecosystem of Central Asia, and what animal ruled the environment in the Late Cretaceous.
There is still lots to discover about Ulughbegsaurus, and in the future much of what is accepted may change.
Other dinosaurs have been essential in learning more about Ulughbegsaurus, but the fossils found show just how much a paleontologist can learn even from the smallest fragments left behind.
FAQS
What type of skin did Ulughbegsaurus have?
While there have been no skin impressions of Ulughbegsaurus discovered, similar species that are related have been found showing these dinosaurs have scaly skin.
It is not known if carcharodontsuarids like Ulughbegsaurus had feathers, but scientists believe this was unlikely.
When did Ulughbegsuarus go extinct?
Carcharodontosaurs like Ulughbegsaurus went extinct around 90 million years ago, and Ulughbegsaurus was one of the last of its kind to exist.
The extinction of these dinosaurs likely occurred due to habitat loss, and them dying off is what caused other predators to rise.
Did Ulughbegsuarus live with Tyrannosaurus Rex?
While Tyrannosaurus rex did not live with Ulughbegsaurus, it is believed they lived alongside their early ancestors that lived in Central Asia during the early Late Cretaceous period.
The Tyrannosaurus rex is often confused for some of their more unknown relatives since they are more popular.
Sources:
- https://www.dinosaurpark.org/paleontology-newsflash-ulughbegsaurus-uzbekistanensis/
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/ulughbegsaurus-1.6166455
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8424376/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcharodontosauridae
- https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/geological-magazine/article/abs/giant-dromaeosaurid-theropod-from-the-upper-cretaceous-turonian-bissekty-formation-of-uzbekistan-and-the-status-of-ulughbegsaurus-uzbekistanensis/4543ABAB1EC19C84405EDF66A5F53124
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