"Yingshanosaurus" is unique in the development of its shoulder spines, but is by no means unique in possessing them. Other stegosaurs from Asia, Africa and Europe sport long spikes projecting from the shoulder blades, which probably served to protect the animals' flanks. Only highly derived forms like Stegosaurus and Wuerhosaurus show no evidence of these parascapular spines.

The name "Yingshanosaurus" is printed in quotes because it is a name that has appeared in print but has not yet been fully described according to the rules for naming a new taxon (a taxonomic unit at any level, in this case "Yingshanosaurus" would be a genus). These rules include designating a type specimen and distinguishing it from related taxa. When the remains of this stegosaur are formally described, the describer can assign any official name he or she chooses, and it is possible that the name "Yingshanosaurus" could end up as a mere dinosaurological footnote. Until then, "Yingshanosaurus" is considered a nomen nudum (literally, a "naked name") informally referring to an almost complete stegosaur specimen.

The unofficial status of "Yingshanosaurus" reminds us that new and unusual dinosaurs are out there, awaiting discovery in fossil beds and museum basements, and description in journals that make their names available to use by researchers worldwide. The saga of Goofy Dinosaurs is far from over.