Some sad news.  Professor Dong Zhiming one of the most influential palaeontologists of the last sixty years has passed away at the age of eighty-seven.  Born in eastern China (Shandong Province) in 1937, Dong Zhiming rose to fame in the 1960s and 1970s forging a reputation as an authority of Chinese dinosaurs. He was mentored at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) by the great C. C. Young, regarded as the “father of Chinese palaeontology”. Having graduated with a degree in biology, Dong Zhiming joined the IVPP and was soon participating in fieldwork excavating dinosaur fossil specimens. He was much admired for his academic rigour and his uncanny ability to find fossils.

Dong Zhiming one of the most influential palaeontologists of the last sixty years. During his career he named and described over forty genera of dinosaurs. Many of our dinosaur books feature his image when highlighting dinosaur fossil discoveries in China.

Professor Dong Zhiming (1937 – 2024)

He played a prominent role forging scientific co-operation with universities and museums outside of his native China.  For example, in the mid-1980s he was instrumental in the formation of the China-Canada Dinosaur Project. Working in collaboration with Philip Currie and Dale Russell, this project involved the mapping and exploration of a number of key dinosaur fossil sites in both Canada and China. The Chinese sauropod Mamenchisaurus sinocanadorum was named in honour of the work of the China-Canada Dinosaur Project.

A Mamenchisaurus drawing. Several species have been assigned to this genus.  For example, M. sinocanadorum, which is one of the larger species.  Mamenchisaurus sinocanadorum honours the China-Canada Dinosaur Project. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Naming Dinosaur Taxa

During his long and distinguished career Professor Dong Zhiming named and described over forty dinosaur genera.  Furthermore, the vast majority are these dinosaur genera are still regarded as valid today.  He was instrumental in helping to build up a detailed picture of the dinosaur biota that once roamed the land we now know as China.  He wrote or co-authored hundreds of technical papers.  For example, he named Wuerhosaurus in 1973 and co-authored the first scientific description of the Chinese theropod Yangchuanosaurus (Dong at al 1978).

Model collectors will know that many of the popular PNSO dinosaur models represent taxa named by Professor Dong Zhiming.  Indeed, the professor was honoured in 1994 when the Chinese metriacanthosaurid Sinraptor dongi was named after him.

The PNSO Xinchuan Sinraptor dinosaur model in lateral view. The species name of this Chinese metriacanthosaurid honours Professor Dong Zhiming acknowledging his enormous contribution to palaeontology.

In the scientific paper describing S. dongi, published in 1993, the etymology of the species name is explained.  The professor’s huge contribution to Chinese palaeontology is implied:

“The species is named after the discover of the type specimen Zhiming Dong, who also worked on the description of the closely related form, Yangchuanosaurus.”

The professor also named and scientifically described other Mesozoic reptiles.  For instance, in 1972 he named the giant ichthyosaur Himalayasaurus (H. tibetensis). In addition, Professor Dong Zhiming was co-author of the scientific paper that described the enigmatic pterosaur Jidapterus edentus from western Liaoning Province.

To read more about the giant ichthyosaur Himalayasaurus: Tucsan the Himalayasaurus.

PNSO Prehistoric Animal Figures

It is fitting that one of the world’s leading prehistoric animal model ranges features replicas of dinosaurs and other reptiles named by Dong Zhiming.  An objective of the team behind the PNSO range of figures is to help raise the profile of Chinese dinosaurs and their research.  Lots of young people have had their first encounter with a Chinese dinosaur as a result of acquiring a PNSO model.

Mike from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“It was sad to hear the news from China of the passing of Professor Dong Zhiming. Many of my dinosaur books from childhood discussed his discoveries and included information about dinosaurs he had named and described.  His immense contribution to palaeontology has been acknowledged and through the PNSO models his work will continue to be honoured.”