Anodontosaurus
Anodontosaurus was a medium-sized ankylosaurid dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Alberta, Canada. This armored herbivore is known for its distinctive tail club and skull ornamentation, distinguishing it from closely related ankylosaurs.
Key Facts
- ›Anodontosaurus was a quadrupedal, ground-dwelling herbivore.
- ›It measured up to 4-5 meters (13-16 ft) in length and weighed approximately 2 metric tons.
- ›The dinosaur possessed armor on most of its dorsal surfaces and a wide, pointed tail club.
- ›Its skull featured postocular caputegulae, small bony plates behind the eyes.
- ›Fossils have been found in the Horseshoe Canyon Formation and Dinosaur Park Formation.
- ›It lived during the MID-Late Campanian to middle Maastrichtian stages of the Late Cretaceous.
Medium-sized ankylosaurid, Up to 4-5 meters in length, Approximately 2 metric tons in body mass, Quadrupedal, Covered in dorsal armor, Possessed a wide, pointed tail club, Skull features postocular caputegulae
Euoplocephalus, Dyoplosaurus, Scolosaurus, Oohkotokia
Canada
About Anodontosaurus
Anodontosaurus is an extinct genus of ankylosaurid dinosaurs, belonging to the subfamily Ankylosaurinae. This armored herbivore inhabited what is now southern Alberta, Canada, during the Late Cretaceous period. The genus is known from fossils found in both the Horseshoe Canyon Formation and the Dinosaur Park Formation, indicating its presence across a significant portion of this geological timeframe.
Discovery and Naming
Charles Mortram Sternberg named Anodontosaurus in 1928, based on a partial skeleton discovered in 1916. The generic name, "toothless lizard," was derived from the appearance of the damaged holotype specimen, which led Sternberg to mistakenly believe the dinosaur lacked typical teeth. The specific name, lambei, honors Lawrence Morris Lambe, a notable Canadian geologist and paleontologist.
Physical Characteristics and Diet
Anodontosaurus was a medium-sized dinosaur, estimated to be around 4 to 5 meters (13 to 16 feet) in length and weighing approximately 2 metric tons. It was a quadrupedal, ground-dwelling herbivore. Like other ankylosaurs, its body was covered in protective bony armor, and it possessed a distinctive wide, pointed tail club. Unique cranial features include postocular caputegulae, which are small plates of bone situated behind the eyes.
Classification and Significance
Initially, some specimens now attributed to Anodontosaurus were classified with Euoplocephalus. However, later research has re-established Anodontosaurus as a distinct genus, differentiated by specific cranial and cervical armor patterns, as well as the morphology of its tail club, which features pointed, triangular knob osteoderms. The genus contains at least two species: A. lambei and A. inceptus. The discovery of A. inceptus from the Dinosaur Park Formation extended the genus's known temporal range further back in time.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Anodontosaurus mean?
The generic name Anodontosaurus means "toothless lizard" in Ancient Greek. This name was given because compression damage to the fossil specimen had removed the teeth, leading the discoverer to mistakenly believe that large "trituration plates" had replaced the normal dentition.
When did Anodontosaurus live?
Anodontosaurus lived during the Late Cretaceous period, specifically from the mid-Late Campanian to the middle Maastrichtian stages, approximately 72.8 to 67 million years ago.
Where were Anodontosaurus fossils found?
Fossils of Anodontosaurus have been discovered in southern Alberta, Canada. They are known from both the Horseshoe Canyon Formation and the Dinosaur Park Formation.
What did Anodontosaurus eat?
Anodontosaurus was a herbivore. As a ground-dwelling dinosaur, it likely consumed low-lying vegetation.
What were the physical characteristics of Anodontosaurus?
Anodontosaurus was a medium-sized ankylosaurid, reaching lengths of 4-5 meters and weighing around 2 metric tons. It was quadrupedal and covered in bony armor, with a characteristic tail club at the end of its tail and small bony plates behind its eyes.
Is Anodontosaurus related to other ankylosaurs?
Yes, Anodontosaurus is classified within the subfamily Ankylosaurinae. It is considered distinct from Euoplocephalus due to differences in skull and cervical half ring ornamentation, as well as tail club morphology.
Related Dinosaur species
Albertaceratops
Albertaceratops was a centrosaurine horned dinosaur that lived during the middle Campanian age of the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Alberta, Canada. It is distinguished by its unique combination of long brow horns and a bony ridge over its nose, along with large, outwardly-projecting hooks on its frill. This dinosaur is estimated to have reached lengths of up to 5.8 meters and weighed around 3,500 kilograms.
Anchiceratops
Anchiceratops is an extinct genus of chasmosaurine ceratopsid dinosaur that roamed what is now Alberta, Canada, during the Late Cretaceous Period, approximately 73 to 68 million years ago. This heavily built, quadrupedal herbivore was characterized by a distinctive skull featuring two long brow horns, a short nasal horn, and an elongated, rectangular frill with ornate, triangular projections along its edges. The genus name "Anchiceratops" translates to "near horned face," reflecting its perceived evolutionary relationship to other ceratopsids.
Centrosaurus
Centrosaurus is a genus of dinosaur belonging to the Centrosaurinae subfamily, known for its characteristic nasal horn and frill ornamentation. These large herbivores lived during the Campanian age of the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Canada. Vast bonebeds suggest they were gregarious animals that may have traveled in herds.