Lufengosaurus — artistic reconstruction

Jurassic

Lufengosaurus

Lufengosaurus huenei

The catalogue presents Lufengosaurus as a herbivore member of Massospondylidae that lived during the Jurassic, between 200.0–175.0 Ma. Its estimated range is 5.0–9.0 m in length and 500–1800 kg in mass, giving a practical sense of scale. Reference material comes from Lufeng Formation, Yunnan, China. Size and mass are approximations and may change with new fossils or methods.

Herbivore200.0–175.0 MaMassospondylidae

Evidence-backed summary

For Lufengosaurus, the PBDB records the taxonomic attribution as Young (1940).

The PBDB places it in Massospondylidae, and the catalogue record assigns it to the family Massospondylidae.

In the PBDB record, the reported stratigraphic range runs from the Hettangian to the Bajocian.

The PBDB catalogues 12 occurrences, with material from the Lufeng Formation (12). Provenance: China.

The catalogue records the holotype as IVPP V15 and the type locality as “Lufeng Formation, Yunnan, China”.

  • IVPP V15
  • Lufeng Formation, Yunnan, China

The catalogue's reference measurements are 5.0–9.0 m in length and 500–1800 kg in mass — estimates, which vary with specimen and method.

  • 5.0-9.0 m
  • 500-1800 kg

The record gathers 40 bibliographic references registered in the PBDB, listed below.

Records compiled on 2026-08-08

Where it lived

Fossil occurrences on today’s map and in the tectonic reconstruction.

Present-day map12 PBDB
LufengLufengLufengLufengLufengLufengLufengLufengLufengLufengLufengLufeng
PBDB occurrences
Map at the time · ~195 Ma12 PBDB
LufengLufengLufengLufengLufengLufengLufengLufengLufengLufengLufengLufeng
PBDB occurrences
Present mean latitude25.2° N
Reconstructed mean latitude37.5° N

Positions reconstructed by PBDB/GPlates, not observed; this is not an exact habitat map.

Paleobiology Database · GPlates · CC BY 4.0

Artistic 3D reconstruction

There is no approved species-specific 3D model yet. Generic anatomy will not be presented as if it were evidence.

Physical Specifications

Length
5.0–9.0 m
Weight
500–1800 kg
Period
Jurassic
Time range
200.0–175.0 Ma

Discovery Information

First Discovery
1938
Described by
CC Young

Taxonomic Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Saurischia
Family
Massospondylidae
Genus
Lufengosaurus
Species
L. huenei

Paleobiology Database · txn:38641

Data status

Taxonomic name matched to PBDB and checked on 2026-08-08.

Taxonomic linkage does not automatically validate size, mass, behaviour or appearance.

Type specimen
IVPP V15
Type locality
Lufeng Formation, Yunnan, China