Genus: Liushusaurus EVANS & WANG, 2010
Etymology: Chinese, Liushu, "willow tree" (derived from "Liutiao", willow leaf, of Liutiaogou, meaning "willow leaf valley" where the fossils were excavated), and Greek, sauros, "lizard."

Species: acanthocaudata EVANS & WANG, 2010
Etymology: Latin, acanthus, "spine" and Latin, cauda, "tail"; referring to the appearance of the tail scalation.

Holotype: IVPP V15587A/B

Locality: Liutiaogou Village, Dashuangmiao Town, Ningcheng County, Chifeng City, Mei Mongol (Inner Mongolia).

Horizon: Yixian Formation, Jehol Group.

Biostratigraphy:

Age: Early Cretaceous.

Material: Part and counterpart of a nearly complete specimen.

Note: Has skin impressions.

Paratype:

IVPP V14715A/B: Partial skull and poscranium.

Note: Has skin impressions.

Referred material:

IVPP V14716: Incomplet postcranial skeleton with skin traces and post-autotomy tail replacement.

IVPP V14746A/B: Part and counterpart of a skeleton.

IVPP V15507A/B: Isolated hind limb with fine scalation.

IVPP V15508A/B: Complete skeleton of a very young hatchling or near hatchling animal.

IVPP V15011: An adult.

IVPP V15586A/B: Skeleton with fine skin impressions from subadult individual with postautotomy tail replacement.