Spinophorosaurus
| Spinophorosaurus Temporal range: Middle Jurassic?, 167Ma | |
|---|---|
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| Holotype skeleton GCP-CV-4229 during excavation | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Superorder: | Dinosauria |
| Order: | Saurischia |
| Suborder: | Sauropodomorpha |
| Infraorder: | Sauropoda |
| Genus: | Spinophorosaurus Remes et al., 2009 |
| Species | |
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Spinophorosaurus (meaning 'spine-bearing lizard') is a genus of early sauropod dinosaur from Niger. It was recovered in a rock formation belonging to the lower part of the Irhazer Group, the age of which is unknown but may be Middle Jurassic or older. It is unusual for having spiked osteoderms, probably from the tail, similar to the famed thagomizer of stegosaurs. The type species, S. nigerensis, was described by Remes et al. in 2009.[1] A study of its braincase showed that its neuroanatomy was in some ways intermediate between that of basal sauropodomorphs and that of neosauropods.[2]
Skeletal reconstruction
Life restoration
References
- ↑ Remes, K.; Ortega, F.; Fierro, I.; Joger, U.; Kosma, R.; Ferrer, J.M.M. (2009). "A new basal sauropod dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Niger and the early evolution of sauropoda". PLoS ONE 4 (9): e6924. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0006924. PMC 2737122. PMID 19756139.
- ↑ Knoll, F.; Witmer, L. M.; Ortega, F.; Ridgely, R. C.; Schwarz-Wings, D. (2012). Farke, Andrew A, ed. "The Braincase of the Basal Sauropod Dinosaur Spinophorosaurus and 3D Reconstructions of the Cranial Endocast and Inner Ear". PLoS ONE 7 (1): e30060. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0030060. PMC 3260197. PMID 22272273.