Chialingosaurus

Chialingosaurus fossils were found and collected by geologist Kuan Yaowu or Guan Yao-Wu in 1957, Taipingstai in Quxian County, whilst they were surveying the Chialing River in southern China. The type species Chialingosaurus kuani was named and described by the paleontologist Yang Zhongjian, in 1959. The genus (Generic name) refers to the Chialing river, while the specific name (species) honors Kuan. Chialingosaurus was the first stegosaurian described from China. IVPP 2300 the holotype, was found in a layer of the Upper Shaximiao Formation, dating from the Oxfordian-Kimmeridgian.

The holotype consists of the partial skeleton lacking the skull. There are six vertebrae, three spines, The humeri, the corocoids, and a right radius. The original material was supplemented after November 1978 by Zhou Shiwu of the Municipal Museum of Chongqing. A second specimen CV 202, was referred and represents a skeleton with a partial skull and lower jaws, limb elements, some vertebrae, and four plates. The 3rd specimen CV 203, a partial skeleton lacking the skull, was made the paratype. All specimens are either juvenile or subadult.