Abstract
Although Stegosaurus is one of the most iconic dinosaurs, well-preserved fossils are rare and as a consequence there is still much that remains unknown about the taxon. A new, exceptionally complete individual affords the opportunity to describe the anatomy of Stegosaurus in detail for the first time in over a century, and enables additional comparisons with other stegosaurian dinosaurs. The new specimen is from the Red Canyon Ranch Quarry, near Shell Wyoming, and appears to have been so well preserved because it was buried rapidly in a pond or body of standing water immediately after death. The quarry is probably located in the middle part of the Morrison Formation, which is believed to be Tithonian in age in this area. The specimen is referable to Stegosaurus stenops based on the possession of an edentulous anterior portion of the dentary and elevated postzygapophyses on the cervical vertebrae. New information provided by the specimen concerns the morphology of the vertebrae, the iliosacral block and dermal armor. Several aspects of its morphology indicate the individual was not fully skeletally mature at the time of death, corroborating a previous histological study.
Highlights
Stegosaurus is the best-known member of the clade of armored dinosaurs known as Stegosauria, or the plated dinosaurs
The stegosaurs are characterized by the possession of two parasagittal rows of hypertrophied dermal armorplates and/or spines extending from the neck to the end of the tail and range from Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous in age [1]
As a result of these factors, Stegosaurus remains relatively understudied by the standards of other Upper Jurassic dinosaur taxa, and there is still much about its anatomy and palaeobiology that remains unknown
Summary
The Postcranial Skeleton of an Exceptionally Complete Individual of the Plated Dinosaur Stegosaurus stenops (Dinosauria: Thyreophora) from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation of Wyoming, U.S.A.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have