Ferganocephale

Ferganocephale
Temporal range: Middle Jurassic, 162Ma
↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Order: †Ornithischia
Clade: †Neornithischia
Genus: †Ferganocephale
Averianov et al., 2005
Species: † F. adenticulatum
Binomial name
Ferganocephale adenticulatum
Averianov et al., 2005

Ferganocephale was possibly an early pachycephalosaurian dinosaur. It was from the Middle Jurassic of Kyrgyzstan.

The type species, Ferganocephale adenticulatum, was first described by Averianov, Martin, and Bakirov in 2005, and is based solely on teeth from the Callovian. The holotype is ZIN PH 34/42, an adult unworn tooth.[1] The type species is Ferganocephale adenticulatum. The genus name combines the name of Fergana Province with a Greek kephale, "head", a reference to the presumed pachycephalosaurian affinities. The specific name means "without tooth serrations" in Neolatin.

Averianov e.a. classified Ferganocephale in the Pachycephalosauridae. It would then be one of the oldest known pachycephalosaurids. Robert Sullivan however, in 2006 disputed the pachycephalosaur classification, finding "few of the features [...] are characteristic of pachycephalosaur teeth," citing the lack of serrations on the teeth, and concludes the specimens are "too incomplete for identification". He considers the taxon a nomen dubium .

Notes

  1. ↑ A. O. Averianov, T. Martin, and A. A. Bakirov, 2005, "Pterosaur and dinosaur remains from the Middle Jurassic Balabansai Svita in the northern Fergana depression, Kyrgyzstan (central Asia)", Palaeontology 48(1): 135-155

References