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Nodosaur
Nodosauridae is a family of ankylosaurian dinosaurs known from the Late Jurassic to the Late Cretaceous periods in what is now Asia, Europe, North America, and possibly South America. While traditionally regarded as a monophyletic clade as the sister taxon to the Ankylosauridae, some analyses recover it as a paraphyletic grade leading to the ankylosaurids. Description Nodosaurids, like their sister group the ankylosaurids, were heavily armored dinosaurs adorned with rows of bony armor nodules and spines (osteoderms), which were covered in keratin sheaths. Ankylosaurians were small- to large-sized, heavily built, quadrupedal, herbivorous dinosaurs, possessing small, leaf-shaped teeth. Unlike ankylosaurids, nodosaurids lacked mace-like tail clubs and instead had more flexible tail tips. Many nodosaurids had spikes projecting outward from their shoulders. One particularly well-preserved nodosaurid "mummy", the holotype of '' Borealopelta markmitchelli'', preserves a nearly complet ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mymoorapelta
''Mymoorapelta'' (Meaning "Shield from the Mygatt-Moore Quarry" after a combination of the names of the discoverers of the Mygatt-Moore Quarry that fossils were originally collected from, and the Greek word πέλτα, meaning "shield") is a Nodosauridae, nodosaurid ankylosaur from the Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian-Tithonian, around 155 to 150 million years ago) Morrison Formation (Brushy Basin Member) of western Colorado and central Utah, United States, USA. The animal is known from a single species, ''Mymoorapelta maysi'', and few specimens are known. The most complete specimen is the holotype individual from the Mygatt-Moore Quarry, which includes , a partial , , and other bones. It was initially described by James Kirkland (paleontologist), James Kirkland and Kenneth Carpenter in 1994. Along with ''Gargoyleosaurus'', it is one of the earliest known nodosaurids. ''Mymoorapelta'' is one of the smaller known nodosaurids, with the estimated length of the largest specimen only reach ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sauropelta
''Sauropelta'' ( ; meaning 'lizard shield') is a genus of nodosaurid dinosaur that existed in the Early Cretaceous Period of North America. One species (''S. edwardsorum'') has been named. Anatomically, ''Sauropelta'' is one of the most well-understood nodosaurids, with fossilized remains recovered in the U.S. states of Wyoming, Montana, and possibly Utah. It is also the earliest known genus of nodosaurine; most of its remains are found in a section of the Cloverly Formation dated to 108.5 million years ago. It was a medium-sized nodosaurid, measuring about long. ''Sauropelta'' had a distinctively long tail which made up about half of its body length. Although its body was smaller than a modern black rhinoceros, ''Sauropelta'' was about the same mass, weighing in at about . The extra weight was largely due to its extensive covering of bony armor, including the characteristically large spines projecting from its neck. Description ''Sauropelta'' was a heavily built quadrupedal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Peloroplites
''Peloroplites'' (meaning "monstrous heavy one") is a monospecific genus of nodosauridae, nodosaurid dinosaur from Utah that lived during the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian to lower Turonian stage, 98.2 to 93 Ma) in what is now the Mussentuchit Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation. The type and only species, ''Peloroplites cedrimontanus'', is known from a partial skull and postcrania, postcranial skeleton. It was named in 2008 by Kenneth Carpenter and colleagues. ''Peloroplites'' was 6 metres (20 feet) long and weighed 2 tonnes (4,410 lbs), making it one of the largest known nodosaurids, and came from a time when ankylosauridae, ankylosaurids and nodosaurids were attaining large sizes.Paul, G.S., 2016, ''The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs 2nd Edition'', Princeton University Press Discovery and Naming In 2001, a skeleton of a large nodosauridae, nodosaurid from the Cedar Mountain Formation in Emery County, Utah, Emery County, Utah was mentioned by Burge and Bird in a publicatio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Borealopelta
''Borealopelta'' (meaning "Northern shield") is a genus of nodosaurid ankylosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of what is today Alberta, Canada. It contains a single species, ''B. markmitchelli'', named in 2017 by Caleb Brown and colleagues from a well-preserved specimen known as the ''Suncor nodosaur''. Discovered at an oil sands mine north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, the specimen is remarkable for being among the best-preserved dinosaur fossils of its size ever found. It preserved not only the armor (''osteoderms'') in their life positions, but also remains of their keratin sheaths, overlying skin, and stomach contents from the animal's last meal. Melanosomes were also found that indicate the animal had a reddish pinkish skin tone. Discovery and history The holotype specimen was uncovered on March 21, 2011, at the Millennium Mine, an oil sands mine north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, that is owned and operated by Suncor Energy. It was discovered by a miner, Shawn Funk, who was diggi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Polacanthinae
Polacanthinae is a subfamily of ankylosaurs, most often nodosaurids, from the Late Jurassic through Early Cretaceous of Europe and potentially North America and Asia. The group is defined as the largest clade closer to '' Polacanthus foxii'' than '' Nodosaurus textilis'' or ''Ankylosaurus magniventris'', as long as that group nests within either Nodosauridae or Ankylosauridae. If ''Polacanthus'', and by extent Polacanthinae, falls outside either family-level clade, then the ''-inae'' suffix would be inappropriate, and the proper name for the group would be the informally defined Polacanthidae. Polacanthines were somewhat more lightly armoured than more advanced ankylosaurids and nodosaurids. Their spikes were made up of thin, compact bone with less reinforcing collagen than in the heavily armoured nodosaurids. The relative fragility of polacanthine armour suggests that it may have been as much for display as defense. They appear to have become extinct about the same time a land br ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Invictarx
''Invictarx'' (meaning "unconquerable fortress") is a monotypic taxon, monospecific genus of nodosauridae, nodosaurid dinosaur from New Mexico that lived during the Late Cretaceous (lower Campanian, 78.5 Ma) in what is now the upper Allison Member of the Menefee Formation. The type and only species, ''Invictarx zephyri'', is known from three isolated, incomplete postcrania, postcranial skeletons. It was named in 2018 in archosaur paleontology, 2018 by Andrew T. McDonald and Douglas G. Wolfe. ''Invictarx'' shares similarities with ''Glyptodontopelta'' from the Naashoibito member of the Ojo Alamo Formation, New Mexico. Discovery and naming In May 2011, an incomplete postcrania, postcranial skeleton of an ankylosauria, ankylosaur was discovered from the upper Allison Member of the Menefee Formation, San Juan Basin by Daniel Williamson. A second incomplete postcranial skeleton was discovered in October 2011 by Andrew T. McDonald while a third specimen was discovered in October 2015 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Propanoplosaurus
''Propanoplosaurus'' is a genus of herbivorous nodosaurid dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous Patuxent Formation of Maryland, USA. Its type specimen is a natural cast and partial natural mold of a hatchling. Discovery and naming From 1994 on, Ray Stanford uncovered an ichnofauna in Maryland near the border with Washington D.C. Along with dinosaur footprints, the impressions of a neonate nodosaurid, specimen USNM 540686, were found by Stanford in 1997. The type species, ''Propanoplosaurus marylandicus'' was named and described by Stanford, David Weishampel, and Valerie DeLeon in 2011. The generic name combines the Latin prefix ''pro~'' with the name of the genus ''Panoplosaurus'' because the new species lived earlier than — but resembled much — this already described nodosaurid. The specific name (zoology), specific name refers to Maryland. The holotype, USNM 540686, was found in the Patuxent Formation, dating from the late Aptian. It consists of the impressions of the back ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ahshislepelta
''Ahshislepelta'' (meaning "Ah-shi-sle-pah Wash shield") is a monospecific genus of ankylosaur dinosaur from New Mexico that lived during the Late Cretaceous (late Campanian stage, 74.5 Ma) in what is now the Hunter Wash Member of the Kirtland Formation. The type and only species, ''Ahshislepelta minor'', is known only from an incomplete postcranial skeleton of a small subadult or adult individual. It was named in 2011 by Michael Burns and Robert M. Sullivan. Based on the size of the humerus, ''Ahshislepelta'' is larger than '' Pinacosaurus mephistocephalus'' but smaller than ''Talarurus'' and '' Pinacosaurus grangeri''. Discovery and naming In 2005, a partial postcranial skeleton of an ankylosaur was discovered from the Hunter Wash Member in the lower part of the Kirtland Formation, New Mexico at the Ah-shi-sle-pah Wilderness Study Area. The specimen was later collected over consecutive field seasons from 2005 to 2009 and was subsequently described in 2011 by Michael Burns and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hylaeosaurus
''Hylaeosaurus'' ( ; Greek: / "belonging to the forest" and / "lizard") is a herbivorous ankylosaurian dinosaur that lived about 136 million years ago, in the late Valanginian stage of the early Cretaceous period of England. It was found in the Grinstead Clay. ''Hylaeosaurus'' was one of the first dinosaurs to be discovered, in 1832 by Gideon Mantell. In 1842 it was one of the three dinosaurs Richard Owen based the Dinosauria on, the others being ''Iguanodon'' and ''Megalosaurus''. Four species were named in the genus, but only the type species ''Hylaeosaurus armatus'' is today considered valid. Only limited remains have been found of ''Hylaeosaurus'' and much of its anatomy is unknown. It might have been a basal nodosaurid, although a recent cladistic analysis recovers it as a basal ankylosaurid. ''Hylaeosaurus'' was about five metres long. It was an armoured dinosaur that carried at least three long spines on its shoulder. History of discovery The first ''Hylaeosauru ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Animantarx
''Animantarx'' ( ; meaning 'living citadel') is a genus of nodosaurid ankylosaurian dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous, Early and Late Cretaceous of western North America. Like other nodosaurs, it would have been a slow-moving quadrupedal herbivore covered in heavy Armour (zoology), armor scutes, but without a ankylosauridae, tail club. The skull measures approximately 25 cm (10 inches) in length, suggesting the animal as a whole was no more than 3 meters (10 feet) long. Discovery and species The generic name is composed of the Latin words ''animatus'' ("living" or "animated") and ''arx'' ("fortress" or "citadel"), referring to its armored nature. In particular, the name is a reference to a comment made by paleontologist R. S. Lull about ankylosaurs, that as "an animated citadel, these animals must have been practically unassailable..." The type species is the only one known so far, and is called ''A. ramaljonesi'' after its discoverer, Ramal Jones. His wife, Carol Jones, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Niobrarasaurus
''Niobrarasaurus'' (meaning "Niobrara lizard") is an extinct genus of Nodosauridae, nodosaurid ankylosaur which lived during the Cretaceous 87 to 82 million years ago. Its fossils were found in the Smoky Hill Chalk, Smoky Hill Chalk Member of the Niobrara Formation, in western Kansas, which would have been near the middle of Western Interior Sea during the Late Cretaceous. It was a nodosaurid, an ankylosaur without a clubbed tail. It was closely related to ''Nodosaurus''. The type species, ''Niobrarasaurus coleii'', was discovered and collected in 1930 by a geologist named Virgil Cole. It was originally described by Mehl in 1936 and named ''Hierosaurus coleii''. It was then re-described as a new genus by Carpenter ''et al.'' in 1995. In 2002 the type specimen was transferred to the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Hays, Kansas. It has been estimated to be 5 meters (16 feet) in length and around 227–453 kg (500–1.000 lbs) according to Thomas R. Holtz Jr., Thomas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gastonia (dinosaur)
''Gastonia'' is a genus of herbivorous ankylosaurian dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of North America, around 139 to 125.77 million years ago. It is often considered a nodosaurid closely related to ''Polacanthus''. ''Gastonia'' has a sacral shield and large shoulder spikes. Discovery and species The type specimen of ''Gastonia burgei'' ( CEUM 1307) was discovered in a bonebed from the limestone strata of the lower Cedar Mountain Formation in Yellow Cat Quarry, Grand County, eastern Utah, the type specimen consisting of a single skull. The type specimen was found alongside 4 partial skeletons of ''Gastonia that'' were placed as paratypes, along with the type specimen of '' Utahraptor'' and an iguanodontid. ''Gastonia'' is among the most common dinosaur fossils in the Cedar Mountain Formation, with many individuals being found across several quarries in the southwest.Kirkland, J.I. (1998). A polacanthine ankylosaur (Ornithischia: Dinosauria) from the Early Cretaceous (Barre ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
