Spinophorosaurus

Spinophorosaurus
Temporal range: Middle Jurassic?, 167 Ma
↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Clade:Dinosauria
Order:Saurischia
Suborder:†Sauropodomorpha
Clade:†Sauropoda
Clade:†Gravisauria
Genus:†Spinophorosaurus
Remes et al., 2009
Species: †S. nigerensis
Binomial name
Spinophorosaurus nigerensis
Remes et al., 2009

Spinophorosaurus (meaning 'spine-bearing lizard') is a genus of early sauropod dinosaur from Niger.

Description

Life restoration

It was about 13 metres (43 ft) long and weighed about 7 metric tons (7.7 short tons).[1] It is unusual for having spiked osteoderms, probably from the tail, similar to the famed thagomizer of stegosaurs.

A study of its braincase showed that its neuroanatomy was in some ways intermediate between that of basal sauropodomorphs and that of neosauropods.[2]

Discovery

Holotype skeleton GCP-CV-4229 during excavation

It was recovered in a rock formation belonging to the lower part of the Argiles de l'Irhazer the age of which is unknown but may be Middle Jurassic or older. The type species, S. nigerensis, was described by Remes et al. in 2009.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Paul, G.S., 2010, The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs, Princeton University Press p. 173
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ 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.
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