Stenopelix

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Stenopelix Fossil range: Early Cretaceous
Stenopelix
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Superorder: Dinosauria Order: Ornithischia Suborder: Marginocephalia Infraorder: Pachycephalosauria Family: Pachycephalosauridae Genus: Stenopelix Meyer, 1857
Species
S. valdensis Meyer, 1852 (type)

Stenopelix (meaning "narrow pelvis") was a genus of small ornithischian dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of Germany. It was a basal pachycephalosaur from the Barremian Stage of the Cretaceous. The genus is based on a partial skeleton lacking the skull, and its classification is based on characteristics of the hips.

There has been some controversy regarding the classification of Stenopelix. It was initially suggested to be a pachycephalosaur, due to the apparent exclusion of the pubis from the acetabulum, and the presence of strong caudal ribs. Later, however, it was shown that the "pubis" was actually part of the acetabulum, and the so-called "caudal ribs" were sacral ribs. The curvature of the ischium and absence of an obturator foramen were not characteristics seen in other pachycephalosaurs.

However, the species continues to be identified as belonging to the Pachycephalosauria infraorder. Some paleontologists nonetheless view the species as being incertae sedis.

[edit] References

• Stenopelix in The Dinosaur Encyclopaedia at Dino Russ's Lair
• Stenopelix at Thescelosaurus! (scroll down to Pachycephalosauria)