As Everything Dinosaur prepares for the arrival of the new PNSO dinosaur model (Lanqi the Lanzhousaurus) we have commissioned a new Lanzhousaurus drawing. The illustration of Lanzhousaurus will feature in the company’s free dinosaur fact sheet. This fact sheet will be sent out with the PNSO Lanzhousaurus figure. The drawing shows this robust Chinese ornithopod in lateral view. The mouth is open in the drawing, just as it is in the new PNSO dinosaur model.
An illustration of Lanzhousaurus. It will be used in a free fact sheet that will be sent out with the new PNSO Lanzhousaurus dinosaur model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
To view the range of PNSO prehistoric animal models in stock at Everything Dinosaur: PNSO Scientific Art Models.
A Unique Illustration of Lanzhousaurus
When formally described in 2005, a cladistic analysis suggested that Lanzhousaurus was closely related to Lurdusaurus. Lurdusaurus is known from the Early Cretaceous of Africa. Therefore, the discovery of Lanzhousaurus supports the theory of a close connection between the fauna of Eurasia and Africa during the Early Cretaceous.
This dinosaur had the largest teeth of any plant-eating dinosaur. Indeed, it had some of the largest teeth of any herbivore known. Some of the teeth were more than ten centimetres long. In contrast, many of its hadrosauriform relatives had mouths packed with dozens of small teeth. These formed a dental battery. However, Lanzhousaurus (L. magnidens) evolved a different strategy to cope with the processing of tough vegetation. It utilised a small number (fourteen) of enormous teeth in the jaw to create a large, continuous surface upon which to grind up plant material.
PNSO Lanqi the Lanzhousaurus (L. magnidens) dinosaur model which is new for 2026. This ornithopod was formally named and described in 2005.
To read Everything Dinosaur’s earlier article about the introduction of the PNSO Lanqi the Lanzhousaurus figure: A New Chinese Ornithopod from PNSO (Lanzhousaurus).
Why the Big Teeth?
Why this ornithopod developed such unique dentition remains unknown. Several theories have been proposed. Lanzhousaurus lived approximately 125 million years ago. As such, it predates the evolution of true hadrosaurid dental batteries. Perhaps it specialised on feeding upon tough, fibrous vegetation such as conifers. Alternatively, it could have evolved to occupy a distinct ecological niche within the palaeoenvironment.
Mike from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“We are busy preparing our Lanzhousaurus fact sheet. It will discuss those remarkable teeth. The fact sheet will be sent out with the new PNSO Lanqi the Lanzhousaurus dinosaur model, which will be in stock soon.”
The award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Figures.
This illustration of Lanzhousaurus is brilliant — it really brings to life this fascinating Early Cretaceous ornithopod with its astonishingly large teeth, which were among the biggest of any herbivorous dinosaur!