Which two paleontologists formally assigned the moniker Xiaosaurus dashanpensis in 1983?
Answer
Dong Zhiming and Tang Zilu
The formal assignment of the species name, *Xiaosaurus dashanpensis*, occurred in 1983. This nomenclature was established by the paleontologists Dong Zhiming and Tang Zilu. They were responsible for analyzing the initial findings from the Dashanpu area and formally describing the creature, giving it the generic name related to its perceived antiquity and the specific name referencing its discovery locale. While later researchers like Paul Barrett conducted significant reviews of the genus, Dong and Tang were the original describers.

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